SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a glacial start and a furious, improbable finish, the Binghamton Bearcats authored a stunning comeback to edge the Bryant Bulldogs 66-64 in overtime in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Chace Athletic Center.

The contest appeared destined to be a comfortable home victory for Bryant for the first 30 minutes. The Bulldogs, leveraging a stifling defense, held Binghamton to a mere three points in the entire first quarter and just 10 points by halftime, taking a 26-10 lead into the break. Binghamton’s offensive struggles were profound, shooting 4 of 24 from the floor in the first half and committing 10 turnovers against a relentless Bryant defense spearheaded by Nia Scott’s four first-half steals.

The second half, however, told a completely different story. Sparked by the dominant interior presence of Kendall Bennett, Binghamton began to chip away. The Bearcats exploded for 18 points in the third quarter, but still trailed by 13 heading into the final period. The fourth quarter became a showcase of resilience and shot-making. Binghamton poured in 29 points, erasing the double-digit deficit with a combination of defensive stops and clutch scoring.

The final minutes of regulation were a tense back-and-forth affair. With Bryant leading 57-54 and under a minute to play, Binghamton’ Kendall Bennett converted a crucial layup while being fouled. She completed the three-point play at the free-throw line to tie the game with 33 seconds remaining. After a Bryant timeout, the Bulldogs’ Mia Mancini missed a pull-up jumper, sending the game to overtime tied at 57.

The extra period was a microcosm of the second half, with neither team leading by more than two points. With Bryant holding a 64-62 lead and under 30 seconds to play, Binghamton’s Carletta Bennett drove for a layup to knot the score at 64. On the ensuing possession, Bennett came up with a monumental defensive play, blocking a driving layup attempt by Mancini with just five seconds left. Kendall Bennett secured the rebound, was fouled, and calmly sank the first of two free throws to give Binghamton a 65-64 lead. After missing the second, Bryant secured the rebound but turned the ball over on the inbound pass, effectively sealing the victory. A final free throw by Bennett provided the 66-64 margin.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably Binghamton’s staggering second-half turnaround, overcoming a 16-point halftime deficit. After being held to historically low scoring in the first half, the Bearcats outscored Bryant 56-38 after the break, a reversal fueled by aggressive defense that forced 12 second-half turnovers and a decisive shift to attacking the paint.

Kendall Bennett, a 6-foot-2 junior from Philadelphia, was the catalyst for the comeback. She finished with a game-high 24 points, including 18 in the second half and overtime, and added four blocks and three steals in 44 minutes. Her performance at both ends of the floor during the critical stages was the driving force behind the victory.

Binghamton also received significant contributions from Carletta Bennett, who scored 14 points and matched Kendall Bennett with three blocks, and Bella Pucci, who added 14 points, all in the second half and overtime.

For Bryant, Mimi Rubino led the way with 15 points, while Nia Scott posted 16 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Mia Mancini added 14 points, but her late misses in regulation and overtime proved costly. The Bulldogs dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 10 rebounds to Binghamton’s three, but were undone by 20 total turnovers and 12-of-20 shooting from the free-throw line.

Statistically, the game was a battle of defensive efficiency on an off-shooting night. Binghamton finished 21 of 52 from the field (40.4%) and capitalized at the line, making 21 of 27 free throws. Bryant shot 22 of 60 (36.7%) and hit 8 of 27 from three-point range. Binghamton’s defense recorded 10 steals and seven blocks.

The victory improved Binghamton’s season record to 15-6, while Bryant fell to 14-7. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in three weeks on Feb. 19 in Binghamton.

Binghamton next hosts Maryland-Baltimore County on Feb. 5. Bryant travels to face New Hampshire on Saturday.