Box Score Dec. 28, 2009
Bronx, N.Y. -
The 2009 Fordham Holiday Classic got underway on Monday, where it was two America East teams that held on late for victories on day one. In the opening game, Binghamton's Viive Rebane and Theodora Panteli each recorded a double-double as the Bearcats upended host Fordham, 49-45, while UMBC's Carlee Cassidy scored a game-high 27 points as the Retrievers topped East Carolina, 66-58, in the nightcap.
Game One - Binghamton 49, Fordham 45 - Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
| Game Highlights 
Binghamton's Viive Rebane and Theodora Panteli each recorded a double-double as the Bearcats upended host Fordham, 49-45, in the opening contest of the Fordham Holiday Classic at the Rose Hill Gym.
Binghamton improved to 3-8 with the win, while Fordham's record is evened at 6-6.
Fordham opened the contest with a solid start, holding Binghamton to just six points over the opening ten minutes, while taking a 16-6 lead behind six points from Randall Hurst. Fordham led by as many as 11 in the opening frame before Binghamton chipped the lead down to four by halftime, 22-18.
Neither squad shot well in the first half, as Fordham was 9-for-27 (33.3%), while Binghamton was 8-for-26 (30.8%). That also included being 2-for-11 and 0-for-8 respectively from three-point range.
In the second half, Fordham pumped the lead back to seven on a three-pointer by Becky Peters, 25-18, but Binghamton put together a 12-5 run, capped by a three-pointer from Jackie Ward to knot the game at 30 with 13:23 remaining.
The Rams though stayed composed, retaking the lead on another three by Peters, and eventually building the advantage back to eight, 40-32, on a jumper by Hurst with 7:14 left. The Bearcats however wouldn't go away, rallying behind a pair of three-pointers from Andrea Holmes and one from Ward to tie the game at 45 with 1:45 to go.
Binghamton then grabbed their first lead of the game on a pair of free throws by Viive Rebane, 47-45, with 1:02 left. After a Fordham turnover, Theodora Panteli knocked down a jumper with 30 seconds left to give Binghamton a 49-45 advantage. Down four, the Rams tried desperately to tie the game, as Kyara Weekes and Ranait Griff each had three-point attempts in the waning seconds, but they fell short giving Binghamton the win.
For Fordham, Peters led all scorers with 14 points and five rebounds, while Hurst added 12 points, five boards, and four assists. Kristina Bell added six points, nine rebounds, and four steals, leaving her just two shy of 100 steals for her career.
Rebane had 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Bearcats, while Panteli also had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Game Two - UMBC 66, East Carolina 58 - Box Score
UMBC's Carlee Cassidy scored a game-high 27 points, while Michelle Kurowski had a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds as the Retrievers topped East Carolina, 66-58, in game two of the Fordham Holiday Classic.
East Carolina (10-2) had a solid opening frame as they built up a 13-point lead in the first half, 29-16, as Kelly Smith hit her third of four three-pointers in the period. The Pirates' lead was whittled to six by halftime, 36-30, as ECU shot 44.1% in the first half.
Things changed quickly in the second half as UMBC got early three-pointers from Carlee Cassidy and Katie Brooks to cut the lead to one, 44-43, before Brooks gave the Retrievers their first lead of the game on a lay-up, 45-44, with 11:56 remaining.
After East Carolina tied the game at 50 on a three by Allison Spivey, UMBC went on an 11-0 run, highlighted by eight straight points from Cassidy, including a pair of three-pointers. The Pirates were unable to recover from that run, as the Retrievers won the game by eight.
Cassidy finished the game 8-for-13 from the field for 27 points, including 7-of-11 from three-point range, for the Retrievers. East Carolina was led by Spivey and Smith with 14 points and four rebounds each.
Play at the Fordham Holiday Classic concludes on Tuesday, December 29th, when Fordham meets UMBC at 1:00 PM, followed by East Carolina and Binghamton in the second game.
