SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The nationally ranked Ithaca College women's basketball team suffered just its second loss of the season to SUNY Plattsburgh in Puerto Rico on Sunday, 76-66. Ithaca is now 6-2 on the season after its three-game winning streak was snapped.

The Bombers held their largest lead of three points in the contest up to the 15:12 mark of the first half, 12-9, on a layup from senior Francesca Cotrupe (Whitesboro, N.Y.), but Plattsburgh answered with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to take a 16-12 edge. Ithaca responded with its own 6-0 run in a 1:13 span to regain the advantage at 18-16 with just over 11 minutes left in the half. The Cardinals scored on their ensuing possession to tie the game up at 18-18, and then the teams would trade baskets up to another deadlock at 22-22. From there, freshman Erin Woop (Branchville, N.J.) net a pair of free throws with 7:26 to put the Bombers back in front, 26-24, but that was the last time Ithaca would lead in the game. Plattsburgh drilled a three-pointer 15 seconds later and would go on to build a 34-28 cushion at intermission.

Cotrupe started the second half with an and-one to pull Ithaca back to within three points at 34-31, but Plattsburgh scored seven straight points to take a 10-point lead at 41-31 with 16:28 left in regulation. Senior Samantha Klie (Wyckoff, N.J.) hit back-to-back jumpers to trim four points off Ithaca's deficit at the 14:46 mark, only to watch the Cardinals go on another run to put the game out of reach. This time, Plattsburgh went on a 14-3 run over the next 3:41 to built its largest lead of the contest at 55-38. Ithaca would attempt to come back, and chipped away to an eight-point deficit, 63-55, with just under six minutes to go, but Plattsburgh quickly went back up by 15 points to finish off the 76-66 setback for the Bombers.

Cotrupe finished the game with nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, while junior Keri Steele (Flemington, N.J.) paced Ithaca with 12 points on 4-for-8 from the field. Klie chipped in eight points, four steals and three rebounds, and freshman Julie Yacovoni (Endwell, N.Y.) added nine points (4-for-5) and three rebounds.

Senior Ali Ricchiuti (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) finished with seven points. Senior Ally Mnich (Holmdel, N.J.) and sophomore Erin Ferguson (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) each added six points. Freshman Jordan Beers (Franklin, N.Y.) netted five points for the Bombers.

Ithaca shot 23-for-58 from the floor (39.7-percent), but struggled from three-point range, making just two of 21 attempts. Plattsburgh shot 25-for-53 overall and 6-for-15 from distance.

The Bombers wrap up their trip to Puerto Rico tomorrow with a 2 p.m. contest against Cabrini. Ithaca will then play its first home game since Nov. 15 on Jan. 2 versus Elmira at 6 p.m.

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