VESTAL, N.Y. – The University of Pennsylvania (0-1) opened their 2017-18 season on the road and despite an early lead, the Quakers fell to the hosting Binghamton Bearcats (2-1), 77-72, in Vestal, N.Y.  The contest marked the second meeting in as many years between the two sides as Penn embarked on the new season on Wednesday night.
 
NOTES
*Three freshmen earned minutes in their first collegiate contest for Penn, led by Eleah Parker who cracked the Quakers starting lineup. Katie Kinum and Tori Crawford also saw action in tonight's matchup.
 
*Senior Anna Ross led the way for Penn with 21 points (7-14 FG) and also added five assists and one rebound on the night. Binghamton was led by Imani Watkins' 27 points (8-21 FG).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was only fitting that Penn's upstate, N.Y. native, senior Anna Ross, earned the first points of the season, giving the Quakers a 10-1 lead in the first three minutes of the contest. With stingy defense that included four boards by freshman Eleah Parker, Penn increased that lead to 12-3 by the quarter media timeout. The hosts rushed back in the last 2:19 of the frame and pulled forward by a 7-0 run as the Red and Blue ended the stanza with a 17-10 lead.
 
Despite the deficit, Binghamton roared back by the media timeout in the second quarter and a 9-4 run led by Rebecca Carmody cut the Quaker lead, 28-23, by the 5:07 mark in the second stanza. Bolstered by another 9-3 run in the last 1:53 of the frame, the Bearcats inched back and Penn led by just one at 35-34 heading into intermission. Watkins led the comeback with eight points to close in on Penn's advantage.
 
Binghamton saw their first lead of the contest by the media timeout in the third quarter as they took a one-point advantage with 4:23 remaining on a go-ahead trey from Carly Boland. Coupled with a 5-0 run, Penn called timeout with 2:27 on the clock as they looked to make up a slight 52-51 deficit at the end of the quarter.
 
Following a timeout with 8:33 remaining in regulation, senior Lauren Whitlatch tied the contest at 56-all with a nice look beyond the arc off a Parker assist, but Watkins wouldn't go away easily. A trey from the BU senior put the Bearcats ahead 61-57 with 5:39 remaining, and coupled with a Boland triple the hosts moved ahead 71-63. The Quakers couldn't get their looks to fall in the final minutes of the contest as Binghamton solidified the win, 77-72.
 
UP NEXT
The Quakers return to University City on Saturday, Nov. 18 when they host Lafayette for their home opener at The Palestra. Game time is slated for 5 p.m. and prior to tip-off there will be a ceremony for the 2016-17 Ivy League championship banner unveiling.