Box Score

HANOVER, N.H. - Leeza Burdgess recorded her second straight double-double with 14 points and a career-high 19 rebounds in a heartbreaking 57-56 loss to Binghamton in the championship game of the Blue Sky Classic at Dartmouth College.

Burdgess was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 13.0 ppg and 14.5 rpg in the two games. The 19 rebounds shattered Burdgess's previous career high of 16, set on Feb. 11, 2012, against Cincinnati when she played for Pittsburgh.

Alicia Cropper scored a game-high 17 points and added seven rebounds, and Micahya Owens added 14 points including four three-pointers.

Sherae Swinson led Binghamton (3-10) with 16 points and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The Explorers (5-7) got out to a quick 10-5 lead through the first five minutes of play, but the Bearcats mounted a 12-0 run behind five Swinson and four Morgan Murphy points capped off by a Gintare Surdokaite triple at 11:34.

Cropper broke up the run with a three-pointer at 11:18 but the Bearcats stayed ahead as the Explorers managed just one field goal in the final 11 minutes of the first half. The Explorers stayed within striking distance with free throws, but Binghamton took a 30-22 lead into the break.

The Explorers crept back after halftime, finally taking a 37-36 lead at 11:40 on a Cropper jumper. Neither team could snag control after that as the remainder of the game featured 12 lead changes and five ties. The Bearcats' Kandace Newry hit the winning bucket on a layup in the paint with 19 seconds remaining.

The Explorers had a shot at the end. Burdgess picked up an offensive rebound with three seconds on the clock but the squad could not get another shot off before time expired.

La Salle owned the boards behind Burdgess's 19 rebounds. The Explorers outrebounded the Bearcats by a staggering 50-31, but were hampered in converting those chances as they shot just 26.8 percent for the game. Binghamton went 41.5 percent from the field including 6-of-12 from long range.

The Explorers return to action after the new year when they open up Atlantic 10 play at Rhode Island on Thursday (1/2) at 7 p.m.