ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — In a dominant wire-to-wire performance, the Binghamton Bearcats defeated the Mercyhurst Lakers 81-60 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

The Bearcats, who never trailed, improved to 20-12 overall, securing their 20th win of the season. The Lakers fell to 15-17.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the third quarter, where Binghamton’s defense completely stifled the Mercyhurst offense. After a competitive first half that saw Binghamton take a 40-36 lead into the break, the Bearcats locked down, holding the Lakers to a mere eight points in the third period. That defensive stand allowed Binghamton to balloon its four-point halftime advantage into a commanding 60-44 lead heading into the final quarter.

Binghamton’s offensive effort was balanced and consistent, scoring at least 19 points in every quarter. The Bearcats opened with 21 points in the first, added 19 in the second, 20 in the pivotal third, and closed with 21 in the fourth. Mercyhurst, meanwhile, could not sustain its early pace, which saw it put up 19 points in the opening quarter and 17 in the second before the offense collapsed after halftime.

Kendall Bennett, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Philadelphia, led all scorers and was the engine for Binghamton. She finished with 23 points, four assists and a game-high four blocked shots in 38 minutes of action. Her defensive presence in the paint was a major factor in disrupting Mercyhurst’s interior game.

Binghamton also received significant contributions from its backcourt. Meghan Casey of White Plains, New York, directed the offense with 13 points and a game-high seven assists. Bella Pucci of Rochester, New York, added 13 points, three assists and a steal. Off the bench, Leah Middleton provided an efficient spark, scoring 12 points in just 18 minutes.

Mercyhurst was led by Sofia Wilson of Avon Lake, Ohio, who scored 17 points and dished out three assists. Jenna Van Schaik of Cincinnati, Ohio, contributed 15 points and four assists. Lena Walz, a local product from Erie, Pennsylvania, logged a game-high 40 minutes and finished with 11 points.

The Bearcats set the tone early, scoring the first four points of the game and maintaining a lead throughout the first half despite several pushes from the Lakers. Mercyhurst tied the game at 9-9 midway through the first quarter on an Erica Hall 3-pointer, but Binghamton responded with a 7-0 run to regain control. The Lakers closed the first quarter strong, trailing just 21-19, and stayed within striking distance until the third-quarter drought.

Binghamton’s defensive intensity in that third period created transition opportunities and allowed its half-court offense to operate with confidence. The lead grew to as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter before settling at the final 21-point margin.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 433. Binghamton will conclude its regular season on the road Sunday at La Salle. Mercyhurst’s season is complete.