Utica, N.Y. -- The women's basketball team (12-6, 8-1 E8) lost its first conference game of the season to Utica (13-5, 8-2 E8) by a score of 56-45 on Saturday. Ithaca still holds a one game lead atop the Empire 8 standings over Stevens Institute of Technology and Utica. Junior guard Lindsay Brown (Immaculate/Danbury, Conn.) led the Bombers in scoring with 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field.

The Bombers trailed 25-21 at the end of the first half. A three-pointer by Jane Debiasse (Chatham/Chatham, N.J.) cut the Utica lead to six points with 1:12 left in the game. Ithaca would not come any closer in the contest as they failed to convert a field-goal after that point.

Ithaca managed to force 20 Pioneer turnovers in the game. Sophomore forward Elissa Klie (Ramapo/Wyckoff, N.J.) and Brown had three steals each. Klie also pulled down five rebounds and blocked a shot. She ranks fourth in the conference in blocked shots with 17 in Empire 8 play.

Junior forward Jeanine Burke (Bridgewater-Raritan/Raritan, N.J.) and sophomore forward Jordan Confessore (South Brunswick/Kendall Park, N.J.) anchored a strong performance off the bench for the Bombers. Burke finished with six points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Confessore netted nine points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field.

The Bombers continue Empire 8 play on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. game at St. John Fisher.

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