Box Score

ONEONTA, N.Y. – The 16th-ranked Ithaca College women's basketball team (6-3, 0-1 Empire 8) dropped its Empire 8 opener Friday night at Hartwick (7-2, 1-0 Empire 8), 63-60, at Lambros Arena.

Despite trailing most of the first half, Ithaca held a 44-33 advantage six minutes into the second. The Bombers bridged intermission with a 22-6 run, but the Hawks capitalized on a 13-1 second-half stretch en route to an indefinite lead at 5:35.

Senior Kathryn Campbell posted a team-high 17 points, while classmate Mary Kate Tierney added 11 in 15 minutes on the floor. Junior Francesca Cotrupe chipped in 10, while grabbing a Bomber-best eight boards. Senior Jenn Escobido, who scored eight points, added seven rebounds. Junior Samantha Klie and Campbell dished out four assists each.

The Hawks led the first seven minutes of the game after jumping out to a 9-2 lead five minutes into action. A Tierney three secured Ithaca a brief lead, but Hartwick used an 11-1 run good for a 22-15 edge at 5:51. The Bombers rewrote a five-point deficit with six consecutive to close out the first in the Bombers' favor, 28-27.

Ithaca maintained its composure to take a double-digit advantage, 44-33 at the 14-minute mark of the second half. Hartwick responded with a 13-1 streak. A Campbell jumper proved to be the Bombers' final lead, 47-46, at 6:12. The Hawks inched ahead down the stretch and converted 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to seal the victory. Campbell drained a trey with one tick lingering on the clock to pull the Bombers within 63-60.

Ithaca owned the rebound count, 40-38, and shot 38.9 percent from the floor to the Hawks' 33.9 percent.

The Bombers will travel to Stevens Institute of Technology for a 5 p.m. E8 game Saturday, Jan. 4.