Building is never easy, particularly when several pieces are missing.

That was the position the University of San Diego women’s basketball team found itself in Wednesday afternoon during a 63-55 loss to Binghamton at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Playing without two of their best ball handling guards – including leading scorer Kylie Ray – the Toreros turned the ball over 21 times and struggled during the first half against the Bearcats’ multiple defenses and press.

After falling behind by 12 points early, the Toreros briefly took the lead in the third quarter before the balanced Binghamton offense – five members of the Bearcats (4-3) finished in double figures — regained control.

USD fell to 3-6. But better days could be ahead. Guards Ray and Ysabella Von Seipler are listed as “day-to-day” with lower leg injuries. Von Seipler is one of five freshmen on the USD roster. Ray, a transfer from Utah, is one of six sophomores. Both are among the eight underclassmen who have already started for the Toreros this season.

“We’re young,” said first-year coach Blanche Alverson. “We’re trying to grow in different areas. We’re still trying to figure out who we are. When we have success, we’re able to move and share the ball. When we don’t, we struggle.

“Games like this are going to benefit us in the long run. Every opportunity is another notch in the belt.”

USD has some nice parts.

Senior guard Hallie Rhodes had her best game at USD Wednesday, scoring 25 points on 11-for-16 shooting while driving through the Bearcats’ defense to boost her season average to 10.7 points a game.

Ray led the Toreros in both scoring (16.8 points a game) and rebounding (6.5 a game) when she was injured in her fourth game.

Von Seipler had downed eight of her first 15 three-point attempts (the Toreros were 2-for-16 Wednesday) before rolling her ankle in the first minute of her first start last week.

Six-foot freshman forward Ayla Williams had 16 rebounds Wednesday and finished with 12 points and is averaging 6.8 rebounds a game.

Plus, freshman guard Olivia Owens and sophomore forwards Helen Holley and Eva Ruse and guards Lilly Amor and Dresha Moore all had their moments Wednesday.

“We’re going to get a boost when we get Kylie back,” said Alverson. “She and Ysabella are high-energy players with strong skills. We’d like to be farther along, but I’m seeing things I wanted to see.”