Freshman Jessica Piscitelli had four kills, 37 assists, 10 digs and four block assists in a loss to Binghamton Saturday night.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Junior Anne Crocus hit .588 for the match to help lead Binghamton (9-6) to a five-game (30-28, 32-34, 27-30, 30-21, 15-12) win over Niagara (4-14) Saturday in the Gallagher Center.

Niagara was led by sophomore Michelle LeSouder (Stratford, Ont.) with 21 kills. Classmate Erin Graham (Oakville, N.Y./Oakville Alabama) had 17 kills and 17 digs, while senior Stacy Koslosky (Elma, N.Y./Iroquois) added 13 kills and six block assists. Sophomore Micole Dalusio (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) had a match-high 18 digs.

The Purple Eagles fell behind 5-0 in the fifth game, but battled back to tie the score at six all on two Graham kills, a kill by senior Valerie Arnone (Buffalo, N.Y./Kenmore West) and a pair of Binghamton errors. The Bearcats tallied the next three points, two coming on Niagara errors, to take a 9-6 lead. The teams traded points until the Purple Eagles drew within two points, 14-12, on a Graham kill. Binghamton registered the two final kills for the match.

"In the middle of the match we lost our intensity and were playing tentative," Niagara head coach Rocco Lucci said. "To a team similar to ours we can’t do that and come out with the win. We need to be more aggressive."

Niagara battled all night to stay in the match. After leading 26-22 in the first match, Binghamton ran off five points to take a 27-26 lead. The Bearcats then scored three of the next five points for the win.

The Purple Eagles came from behind in game two. Down 25-19, Niagara scored five-straight points to trail 26-24. The teams traded points until the Purple Eagles took a 31-30 lead on a kill and service ace by LeSouder. Binghamton tied the score twice more before Niagara capitalized on an Arnone kill and a Binghamton hitting error.

Niagara took a two-game lead when it again came from behind in the third game. Down 19-16, the Purple Eagles recorded six consecutive points to lead 22-19. Niagara then scored on eight of the last 16 points for the win.

Binghamton fought back in game four. Tied at 17 all, the Bearcats tallied three points on a pair of Niagara errors and a service ace by Michele Heck. They then went on a 6-2 run to lead 26-20. The Purple Eagles came back with an Arnone kill and a double block from Koslosky and freshman Jessica Piscitelli (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker), who finished with four kills, 37 assists, 10 digs and four block assists. Binghamton responded with a pair of kills and a Niagara had an error to give the Bearcats a 29-22 lead. Binghamton then sealed the win with a Crocus kill.

Niagara opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play Oct. 11 when it travels to Riverdale, N.Y., to play Manhattan at 2 p.m. in Draddy Gym and to Jersey City, N.J., to play Saint Peter’s at 1 p.m. in the Yanitelli Center Oct. 12.

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