Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca College women's basketball team took over first place in the Empire 8 with a 53-45 win over visiting Hartwick on Saturday afternoon at Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers held the Hawks to just 28.8 percent shooting from the field and Ithaca improved to 16-2 overall this season and 8-1 in the Empire 8. It was the first conference loss for Hartwick, as the Hawks fell to 15-4 on the season and 7-1 in the conference.

Ithaca trailed only once in the entire game, at 3-2 just two minutes into the contest. A jumper by Devin Shea gave the Bombers a lead and they never looked back. The Bombers stretched the lead to as many as 10 points late in the first half and held a 28-20 lead at halftime. Ithaca had two leads of 13 points early in the second half, but Hartwick rallied back to cut the deficit to just two points with 11 minutes remaining. A 3-pointer from Kathryn Campbell started a 14-4 run over the next six minutes and the Bombers went on to an eight-point win.

Shea led all Ithaca players with 17 points, Campbell had 13 and Mary Kate Tierney had 12 points. Jenn Escobido had eight rebounds and two steals. Shea blocked four shots in the game.

Ithaca continues Empire 8 play Friday at 6 p.m. at Nazareth. The Bombers have won 11 of their last 12 games.