Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team (8-1) held off host Rochester (8-3) Wednesday night to claim a 57-55 victory in its 2013 debut.

The Bombers outscored the Yellowjackets by one point in each half to claim their third straight victory and eighth of the season. The win snapped an 11-game winning streak by Rochester, as Ithaca's last victory came during the 1995-96 season.

Senior Devin Shea led the Bombers with 13 points and junior Kathryn Campbell chipped in 11. Juniors Elisabeth Wentlent and Mary Kate Tierney had nine points apiece. Junior Jenn Escobido pulled down a season-high nine boards to lead the game. Shea had two steals and a pair of blocks in just 24 minutes of play.

With three lead changes and four ties in the first frame, six points served as the largest lead by either team during the opening 20 minutes. Rochester took an 8-5 advantage two minutes into play, but Ithaca secured the lead for much of half with a 9-0 run. The Yellowjackets twice cut within one and went on to take a 26-24 lead with 3:18 lingering in the half. A Campbell trey provided the Bombers a 27-26 lead at intermission.

Wentlent and Shea drained back-to-back buckets to open the second stint. A Yellowjacket streak put the host squad ahead by three at 10:24, but the Bombers battled with another 9-0 run to secure the lead indefinitely. After posting an eight-point gap at 4:36, Rochester dwindled its deficit to just one, 51-50, at 2:17. The Bombers looked to pull away for good with six unanswered and just 48 ticks lingering in the game. A Yellowjacket layup and a three pointer over an 11-second span brought them within 57-55, but it was a Shea steal with four seconds on the clock that sealed the victory for the Bombers.

Rochester narrowly outshot Ithaca, 38.2 percent to 37.5 percent, while the Bombers owned a 40-36 advantage on the boards.

The Bombers return to action on Friday, Jan. 4 when they host Alfred in Empire 8 play at 6 p.m.