Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team (23-2, 13-1 Empire 8) defeated visiting Nazareth (10-15, 7-7 Empire 8), 54-37, on Saturday afternoon at Ben Light Gymnasium.

With a spot in the Empire 8 Championship Tournament on the line, Nazareth challenged Ithaca early. The Bombers gained perminant possession of the scoreboard at 13:02 and would hold a 27-19 gap at intermission. Nazareth cut their deficit to five at 16:41 of the second, but the Bombers took a double-digit lead and powered to their 10th straight win.

Junior Jenn Escobido led the Bombers with 12 points and eight rebounds. Senior Elizabeth Conti posted 10 points and had a career- and game-high five steals. Senior Devin Shea and sophomore Ally Mnich each chipped in nine points. Junior Mary Kate Tierney made four assists.

The first half featured four lead changes with Ithaca securing the lead indefinitely seven minutes in. Ithaca snapped an 8-8 deadlock with eight straight to take control of the game. Nazareth snuck within four with back-to-back buckets, but Ithaca answered with a 9-2 run for a 25-14 advantage at 1:53. The Bombers owned a 27-19 gap at halftime.

Nazareth had the game back within five, 33-28, early in the second. The Bombers tallied a double-digit lead with a 10-2 run for a 43-30 edge at the 10-minute mark. The Blue & Gold scored 11 of the final 18 points to earn their 20th straight victory against the Golden Flyers.

Nazareth held a 41-37 margin in rebounds. The Bombers shot 35.2 percent from the floor and the Golden Flyers converted 29.4 percent of their shots.

The Bombers will return to action on Friday, Feb. 22 at second-seeded Hartwick. Ithaca is the top seed in the Empire 8 Championship Tournament and will play the fourth-seeded St. John Fisher at 6 p.m.