Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y. – The 13th-ranked Ithaca College women's basketball team (1-0) opened its 2013-14 campaign with a 71-60 victory at William Smith (0-1) Friday evening in Bristol Gym. The victory was Ithaca's sixth straight over the Herons in as many seasons.

Winning its season opener for the fourth straight season, Ithaca was led by seniors Kathryn Campbell and Mary Kate Tierney. Campbell's 18 points were a game-high, while Tierney had a career- and contest-best 14 rebounds and 16 points for her sixth double-double as a Bomber. Tierney chipped in a trio of steals. Junior Samantha Klie added a career-high 13 points and senior Jenn Escobido grabbed nine boards.

William Smith snagged the first basket of the season and held Ithaca to two points during the opening four minutes of play. The Bombers were in a deficit during the first quarter of action. Escobido capitalized on a Geena Brady dish for a layup and a 20-19 IC edge at 9:27. The Herons, who relinquished the six-point lead they owned at 13:26, went ahead on the following possession with a three pointer, but Erin Ferguson netted her first collegiate points to knot the game at 24-all. The Bombers went on to take an indefinite lead on a Campbell trey at the five-minute mark. Ithaca led 34-31 at the half.

The Bombers powered ahead early in the second, 44-33, holding the Herons to a lone field goal over the first 5:22 of action. Back-to-back threes pulled William Smith within 44-39 at 13:12. Escobido and Campbell combined for four points, but the Herons snuck within 50-48 at 7:50 using a 9-2 run. The Bombers outlasted the host team down the stretch going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe to seal the win. Ithaca shot 82.8 percent from the free throw line during the victory.

Ithaca outrebounded the Herons, 42-32, and shot 37.7 percent from the floor to William Smith's 34.5 percent.

The Bombers will return to action Wednesday, Nov. 20 in their own renovated Ben Light Gymnasium to face visiting Rochester at 7 p.m.