Box Score

MEDFORD, Mass. -- The Ithaca College women's basketball team made a furious rally in the closing minutes that fell just short in a 61-59 loss at fourth-ranked Tufts (30-1) in an NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Quarterfinal game at Cousens Gym. Ithaca finished its season with a 26-5 overall record. Ithaca's run to the elite 8 was the furthest postseason advancement in school history.

Ithaca trailed by 10 points with six minutes remaining before back-to-back 3-pointers by Kathryn Campbell brought the Bombers within four. Tufts regained an eight-point lead, but Ithaca's late-game fouls helped Ithaca creep back into it. Mary Kate Tierney hit a long 3-pointer with eight seconds left to make the score 60-59 in favor of the Jumbos. Tufts made one of two free throws, and Ithaca rebounded the miss, pushed the ball down the floor and a reverse layup attempt was no good that would have sent the game to overtime.

Ithaca led early in a back-and-forth first half. Tufts opened the scoring with a 3-pointer and Ithaca answered with an 11-2 run to build its largest lead of six points at 11-5. Tufts led 32-30 at halftime.

Ithaca's 59-point effort was 10 more than Tufts allows on average, as the Jumbos ranked second nationally in scoring defense at 49.0 points per game. The Bombers made 10 3-pointers in the contest, which was their second-best performance from behind the arc this season.

Kathryn Campbell scored a game-high 21 points and converted on five of six 3-point attempts. Mary Kate Tierney totaled 16 points and hit four times from behind the arc. Ithaca shot just 34 percent from the field in the game despite making 10-of-18 from behind the arc.

Geena Brady and Jenn Escobido shared the team lead with eight rebounds each. Ithaca assisted on 17 of its 20 made field goals, led by Tierney with nine assists.

Tufts got most of its scoring from four players, who all scored in double-figures as Hayley Kanner had 18 points, Kelsey Morehead scored 14, Michela North had 11 and Liz Moynihan added 10.