Box Score

UTICA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team (11-1, 4-0 Empire 8) powered to a 55-35 victory over host Utica (7-7, 3-2 Empire 8) Tuesday night at the Clark Athletic Center.

Holding the host squad to just 14 first-half points, Ithaca built upon a 23-14 lead at intermission to claim its six straight victory while remaining atop the Empire 8 standings.

The Bombers, who held the Pioneers to a season-low 35 points, committed just 10 turnovers during the action, while forcing 17 Utica turnovers. Ithaca shot 34.4 percent from the floor to the Pioneers' 25 percent.

Junior Mary Kate Tierney netted a career- and game-high 18 points, while adding six rebounds, a game-best four blocks and a trio of assists. Classmate Elisabeth Wentlent pulled down a career-best nine rebounds to pace the Bombers on the boards. She added a career-best six steals and chipped in seven points. Junior Kathryn Campbell scored 11 points.

The Pioneers scored the game's first bucket off the opening tip, but a Wentlent three-pointer would secure the Bomber lead indefinitely just 40 seconds into play. Ithaca ran away with the score, holding a 12-2 gap at the 14-minute mark. Utica twice brought the game within four, but a 6-1 run closed out the half in Ithaca's favor, 23-14.

The Blue & Gold maintained its edge into the second stint. The Pioneers cut their 14-point deficit to nine at 9:09, but The Bombers responded with eight unanswered en route to the 20-point rout.

Utica held a 42-37 gap in rebounds.

The Bombers return to Ben Light Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 12 hosting William Smith at 2 p.m.