HACKENSACK, N.J. (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge and a game-high 21 points from Kendall Bennett propelled the Binghamton Bearcats to a 62-51 victory over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in a non-conference women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at Rothman Center.

The Bearcats, who trailed by 12 after a sluggish first quarter, outscored the Knights 22-7 in the second period to seize control of a contest defined by defensive pressure and poor shooting. The win moved both teams to an identical 8-4 record on the season.

Fairleigh Dickinson opened the game with clear energy, capitalizing on early Binghamton turnovers to build a 20-8 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Knights’ defense forced six Bearcat turnovers in the opening frame, with Madlena Gerke and Ava Renninger applying consistent pressure.

The game’s decisive shift began immediately in the second quarter. Binghamton tightened its defense, holding Fairleigh Dickinson to just 2-of-14 shooting from the field in the period while committing only two turnovers themselves. A 14-2 run by the Bearcats, capped by a Leah Middleton jump shot with 7:57 remaining, erased the deficit and gave Binghamton its first lead at 24-23. The Bearcats closed the half on a 10-4 spurt, taking a 30-27 advantage into the break.

Bennett, a 6-foot-2 forward from Philadelphia, was the offensive constant for Binghamton throughout the night. She finished 8-of-12 from the free-throw line and added five offensive rebounds, consistently generating second-chance opportunities. Her interior presence helped Binghamton secure a 34-24 advantage in points in the paint.

The Knights never recovered their offensive rhythm after the first quarter. They shot just 20-of-62 (32.3%) from the field for the game and 5-of-22 (22.7%) from three-point range. Despite forcing 14 Binghamton turnovers and converting them into 16 points, Fairleigh Dickinson’s own 13 turnovers and an inability to score consistently in the half-court proved insurmountable.

Binghamton’s backcourt of Meghan Casey and Bella Pucci provided crucial support. Casey, from White Plains, N.Y., contributed eight points and two assists, while Pucci, of Rochester, N.Y., added seven points, two assists and two steals. Kaia Goode facilitated the offense with a team-high two assists.

Fairleigh Dickinson was led by a balanced effort that saw four players score between eight and 11 points. Kailee McDonald of Lowell, Mass., logged 40 minutes and finished with 11 points. Leah Crosby of Plainfield, N.J., and Reese Downey of Galloway, N.J., each added 10 points. Gerke, from Riga, Latvia, chipped in five points and three assists.

The Bearcats maintained their lead throughout the second half, extending it to as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter. Free-throw shooting was a key differentiator, with Binghamton converting 17 of 19 attempts compared to Fairleigh Dickinson’s 6-of-9 performance.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 107, defied the pregame statistical projections, which heavily favored the Knights. Binghamton’s defensive adjustment after the first quarter, which stifled Fairleigh Dickinson’s perimeter game and forced contested shots inside, formed the foundation of the comeback victory.

Binghamton travels to face Maryland-Eastern Shore on Tuesday. Fairleigh Dickinson’s next contest is at Mercyhurst on Jan. 2.