AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — In a marathon women’s college basketball game defined by grit and missed opportunities, the Binghamton Bearcats outlasted the Akron Zips in a double-overtime thriller, 95-94, on Thursday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The victory, secured in the final seconds of the second extra period, improved Binghamton’s record to 3-2, while Akron’s winless start to the season extended to 0-5.

The game was a tale of two halves and two overtimes, with Akron dominating early before Binghamton mounted a furious comeback. The Zips controlled the first half, building a 38-29 lead at intermission by capitalizing on Binghamton’s sloppy ball-handling. The Bearcats struggled to find an offensive rhythm, committing numerous turnovers that Akron converted into easy baskets.

Akron maintained its advantage through the third quarter, but the fourth period saw a dramatic shift. Binghamton’s offense exploded for 29 points, spearheaded by clutch shooting from Leah Middleton and Bella Pucci. The Bearcats chipped away at the deficit throughout the quarter, setting up a frantic finish in regulation.

With the game on the line and time expiring in the fourth quarter, Bella Pucci connected on a critical three-pointer to tie the score and force the first overtime, completing Binghamton’s remarkable comeback.

The first overtime was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets. Akron’s Corinne Reed hit a three-pointer to give the Zips a late lead, but Binghamton’s Yanniah Boyd answered with a put-back layup at the buzzer to extend the game to a second overtime, knotted at 85.

In the second overtime, Akron built a narrow lead, but free throws proved to be a critical factor. The Zips struggled immensely from the charity stripe all night, finishing 26 of 44. Conversely, Binghamton was more efficient, making 22 of 28.

The game was ultimately decided in the final 30 seconds. With Binghamton trailing by one, Bella Pucci was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly sank all three free throws to put the Bearcats ahead 95-94. Akron had two final possessions to reclaim the lead, but a missed layup by Shaena Brew and a defensive rebound by Pucci sealed the victory for the visitors.

Pucci was the undeniable star for Binghamton, pouring in a game-high 29 points, including the decisive free throws. She added crucial rebounds in the waning moments. Kendall Bennett provided significant support with 19 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, dominating the offensive glass.

For Akron, Ni’Rah Clark led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but her efforts were overshadowed by the team’s collective free-throw woes. Shaena Brew filled the stat sheet with 14 points and seven assists, while Natalie Johnson and Keiryn McGuff each added 13 points. McGuff also contributed two blocks.

Despite the loss, Akron was the more efficient shooting team, finishing at 46.9 percent from the field compared to Binghamton’s 39.5 percent. However, Binghamton’s resilience on the boards, where they held an 18-13 advantage in offensive rebounds, and their ability to force key turnovers, with eight steals to Akron’s four, proved to be the difference in a game that required 50 minutes to decide a winner.