Preview: Binghamton Bearcats at Bryant Bulldogs

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — Two teams riding opposite waves of momentum will meet Thursday night when the Binghamton women’s basketball team visits the Bryant Bulldogs at Chace Athletic Center.

Both teams enter the Jan. 29 contest with identical 14-6 overall records, but their recent trajectories diverge sharply. The visiting Bearcats have won seven of their last eight games, including a 62-57 victory over Maine on Saturday. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, seek to halt a three-game skid, most recently a 71-53 loss at Vermont.

The matchup features two of the conference’s top players in contrasting roles. Binghamton’s Kendall Bennett has been a dominant force, averaging a double-double over her last five games. The forward is coming off a 14-point, 12-rebound performance against Maine and scored 26 points in a win over UMass Lowell on Jan. 10.

Bryant will counter with guard Mia Mancini, a key distributor who has struggled with consistency during the team’s slump. After a 19-point, 5-assist effort in a win over Maine on Jan. 3, Mancini was held to a single point in a loss to UMBC on Jan. 15. Her playmaking will be crucial against a stout Binghamton defense.

Binghamton’s success has been built on defense, holding opponents to an average of 54.4 points during their 7-1 run. Bryant’s offense has stalled during its losing streak, failing to reach 55 points in two of the three losses.

The Bearcats have shown resilience in close games, with three of their last six wins coming by four points or fewer. Bryant will rely on home-court advantage, where they are 8-2 this season, including a signature 80-71 non-conference win over Boston College in December.

This game is the first of a home-and-home series between the teams, who will meet again in Binghamton on Feb. 19. The result could prove pivotal for conference tournament seeding, with both squads currently near the top of the standings.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at the Chace Athletic Center.