ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca women's basketball team (6-4) made some big plays late in the game and pulled out a 74-68 win over Potsdam (1-7) Saturday at Ben Light Gymnasium. Senior guard Lindsay Brown (Immaculate/Danbury, Conn.) had two important steals and Riley Dunn (Central Catholic/Bradford, Mass.) made a 15-foot jumpshot to put Ithaca ahead.
Junior forward Elissa Klie (Ramapo/Wyckoff, N.J.) tallied her first assist of the contest in the game's final minute where she found Dunn at the free-throw line for a 15-foot field goal that broke a 68-68 tie with 38 seconds left to play. In the ensuing possession, the Bears missed a long two-point field goal which could have tied the game. An over-the-back call sent Klie to the free-throw line where she connected on both attempts to secure the win after giving Ithaca a four-point advantage with 11 seconds to play.
A 3-pointer by Brown capped a 16-3 run to start the second half which gave Ithaca its largest lead of the game at 13. On the previous possession, Brown led a three-on-two fast break that resulted in a 3-point field goal by junior forward Jane DeBiasse (Chatham/Chatham, N.J.). Senior guard Katherine Bixby (Germantown Friends/Philadelphia, Pa.) fueled the 16-3 run that opened the second half with six points in a span of 90 seconds. She knocked down a 3-pointer to break a 36-36 tie and was fouled in the act of shooting a three on the next possession. Bixby reached double-digits in scoring for the fifth straight game as she posted a game-high 17 points.
Two other Bombers reached double figures in scoring; Brown (14) and Klie (12). Brown connected on all six free-throw attempts and added two three-pointers. Klie nearly posted a double-double at the half with eight points and 10 rebounds. She grabbed one more rebound in the second half to tie a career-high (11) and finished with 12 points.
Ithaca mixed in various defenses, including a 2-3 zone and full court press that led to Potsdam's 27 turnovers. Klie grabbed a career-best seven of the team's 13 steals.
The Bombers return to Empire 8 play with a road game against Elmira on Jan. 5 at 6 p.m.
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