Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team is Sweet 16 bound for the third time in program history and second time in as many years. The Bombers (25-4) outlasted visiting Haverford (24-4) Saturday evening to claim a 54-43 victory in the NCAA Regional Finals. Ithaca will advance to play Amherst Friday, March 14 at a site to be announced Monday.

After a trying first half that ended in Haverford's favor 22-21, Ithaca outscored the Fords 33-21 in the second to extend its season another week. The Bombers secured the lead infinitely with a pair of Kathryn Campbell free throws at 16:18 of the second. Over the next five minutes, the Bombers improved their advantage to 36-29. Haverford responded to make it a one possession game, but Ithaca answered with a 10-1 run forcing the visiting squad to foul down the stretch.

With the win, Ithaca matched the 2009 school record of 17 consecutive victories. The Bombers' 25 wins sit second in program history to the school record 27 set last season. Ithaca's first appearance in the Sweet 16 came under current head coach Dan Raymond in the 2002-03 season.

Seniors Mary Kate Tierney and Jenn Escobido led the game with double-doubles. Her 12th double-double of the season, Tierney tallied a game-high 19 points and added 11 boards. Escobido pulled down a contest-best 12 rebounds and chipped in 16 points for her third of 2013-14. Classmate Kathryn Campbell scored seven points, had eight rebounds and a game-high five assists.

Haverford's Cara Wyant was 4-for-6 from 3-point range for a team-best 14 points. Elizabeth Lynch added 10. Jacquelyne Pizzuto dished out five assists and Shannon Smith recorded a game-best four blocks.

Ithaca shot 34.5 percent for the game, while the Fords connected on just 24.2 percent of their attempts. Ithaca owned a 51-41 edge in rebounds.

The teams combined to hit just 19-of-62 field goals in the first half. Ithaca took an 8-4 lead at 11:16, but the Fords responded with a 14-4 streak for a six-point gap at the five-minute mark. An Elisabeth Wentlent block with six seconds lingering in the half led to a Campbell jumper at the buzzer to pull the Bombers within one, 22-21.

The second half started slow with only five points being scored in the first 5:48 of play. A Tierney three, one of three she hit during the game, tipped off a run that resulted in a seven-point Ithaca margin at 11:24. A Wyant trey at 5:27 capped a run that pulled the Fords within three, but Escobido answered with five straight. Wentlent and Wyant were charged with technical fouls at 3:16 after a scuffle in the paint, fouling Wyant out of the game. Ithaca went on to extend its lead to 12 at the foul line, 50-38, at 1:10. Lynch free throws and a Pallavi Juneja three pulled Haverford within 51-43 with 51 seconds left on the clock, but Ithaca held the visitors scoreless down the stretch en route to victory.

Ithaca's 54 points are the third fewest it has scored this season.

The Bombers have faced Amherst just once in program history – earlier this season. The Bombers suffered a 66-44 setback to the Jeffs during the Amherst Tip-Off Tournament in November.

Postgame Video - Coach Dan Raymond, Jenn Escobido and Mary Kate Tierney


Postgame Video - Haverford Coach Bobbi Morgan And Cara Wyant