Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. – Playing at home for the first time since Nov. 15, the Ithaca College women's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 1-0 in the Empire 8 Conference with a 76-68 victory over Elmira College. With the win, Ithaca is now 7-3 overall and Elmira is 3-5, 0-1.

Ithaca got on the board first in the opening minute on a layup from senior Francesca Cotrupe (Whitesboro, N.Y.) and forced Elmira into a couple turnovers over its next three possessions. The Bombers then took a 4-0 lead on a put-back from senior Ally Mnich (Holmdel, N.J.) that made the Soaring Eagles burn an early timeout. A steal and transition jumper from senior Samantha Klie (Wyckoff, N.J.) put Ithaca ahead, 6-0, before Elmira ended the run on its ensuing possession at the 16:46 mark.

Elmira tied the game up at 7-7, but Ithaca answered with an 8-2 run to go back up by six points, 15-9, with 12:48 left in the half. The run was highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from freshman Jordan Beers (Franklin, N.Y.) and sophomore Alex Gilligan (Fountain Hills, Ariz.).

The Soaring Eagles brought the game back to a four-point spread at 15-11 midway through the half, but Elmira was then held scoreless for nearly three minutes as the Bombers went on an 8-0 run to extend its lead to 23-11. Elmira fought back to a nine-point deficit at 24-15 with six minutes to go, but Ithaca ended the half outscoring the Soaring Eagles, 14-7, and took a 38-22 lead into the locker room.

Sophomore Shayna Gaskins (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) netted five points over the final six minutes, while Mnich scored four.

Elmira came out of the break on fire and went on a 12-4 run over the first 3:14 to close to within eight points at 42-34. After a timeout was called by Ithaca to slow things down, the Bombers stayed ahead by at least seven points, and by as many as 11 until Elmira closed to four at 56-52 with 9:06 left in regulation. Beers then scored five of Ithaca's next seven points to put the Bombers back up by 11 points at 63-52 with 7:33 remaining.

Refusing to go away, the Soaring Eagles crept back to within six points on three different occasions – the last at 4:53. Ithaca put the game out of reach after freshman Erin Woop (Branchville, N.J.) put in a layup and junior Keri Steele (Flemington, N.J.) hit a three to push the spread back out to 10 points at 72-62 with 1:41 left.

Cotrupe finished the game with 14 points and 11 rebounds (seven offensive) for her second double-double of the season. She shot 6-for-12 overall and added four steals in 25 minutes. Beers scored 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting (2-for-4 from three) off the bench.

Klie and Steele both tallied eight points for Ithaca. Klie dished out six assists and grabbed five rebounds, while Steele pulled down four to go along with three steals.

Mnich, Woop and senior Geena Brady (Syracuse, N.Y.) each added six points in the win. Gaskins and Gillian both chipped in five points, while sophomore Erin Ferguson (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) and freshman Julie Yacovoni (Endwell, N.Y.) had four points apiece.

Yacovoni pulled down seven rebounds, while Ferguson notched six.

Ithaca shot 41.2-percent overall in the game (28-for-68) and pulled down 51 rebounds – 20 on the offensive end. Elmira went 22-for-55 from the field and finished with 34 rebounds.

The Bombers continue Empire 8 play tomorrow and head to Utica for a 2 p.m. contest.

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