ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team picked up its first victory of the 2015-16 with an 89-52 non-conference win over Bard in the IC Invitational in Ben Light Gymnasium on Friday afternoon.

Ithaca (1-2) connected on 35-of-67 attempts from the field for a 52.2-percentage, and went 12-for-26 from three-point range (46.2-percent). Ithaca assisted on 21 of the made baskets, and recorded 15 steals and nine blocks on the defensive end. The Bombers also outrebounded Bard (2-1), 40-34, and forced 18 turnovers that led to 25 points.

All 16 players for the Bombers saw at least four minutes of action, and 13 scored more than three points.

In the first quarter, the score never differed more than two points until junior Ali Ricchiuti put in a layup to give Ithaca a 15-12 lead and then classmate Alex Gilligan hit a three-pointer at the 2:20 mark to put the Bombers up by six points at 18-12. Sophomore Erin Woop capped off the quarter with a lay-in with two seconds left to make the score, 20-12.

After the first quarter, Bard pulled to within seven points at 28-21 midway through the second period, but that was the closest things would get the rest of the way.

Sophomore Jordan Beers led the Ithaca offense with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with two rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Ricchiuti finished with 11 points on 4-for-6 overall with three assists and two blocks, while freshman Allie Tunick also reached 11 points in 10 minutes played with a trifecta of three-pointers.

Junior Erin Ferguson was the fourth Bombers to reach double digits with 10 points on 4-of-5 from the floor to go along with six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Gilligan and senior Keri Steele each chipped in six points. Gilligan also dished out a game-high five assists.

Freshman Annie Giannone and sophomore Julie Yacovoni each tallied seven points. Giannone scored all her points in a span of 1:02 in the fourth quarter to go along with three assists, three rebounds and three steals in eight minutes. Yacovoni added four rebounds and three blocks.

Freshman Sara Jackson contributed five points, while junior Shayna Gaskins grabbed five rebounds. Both also picked up two steals. Woop and junior Kiera Murray each registered four points, while sophomore Allison Spaschak and freshman Breanna Bermel finished with three points apiece.

Freshman Meghan Pickell handed out two assists, and fellow freshman Meghan Mazzella snagged two rebounds to round out Ithaca's contributors.

The Bombers will play the United States Coast Guard Academy tomorrow at 3 p.m. to conclude the IC Invite. Coast Guard defeated Dickinson, 66-44, in the first game today. Details of that contest are below.

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Coast Guard 66, Dickinson 44
Recap provided by Katie Callahan

In the first game of the Ithaca Invitational, United States Coast Guard Academy took on Dickinson College at Ben Light Gymnasium. Coast Guard topped Dickinson by a score of 68-44.
 
The game was tied at 29 going into the half, but a 10-2 run in the middle of the third quarter sparked Coast Guard to give it an eight-point lead over Dickinson. The Red Devils never got within four points after the run by the Bears. 
 
Coast Guard shot 39.7% from the field, converting 29-73 shots, compared to 17-51 for a 33.3 field-goal percentage by Dickinson. The Red Devils held the advantage in made three-pointers, 7-1. Coast Guard finished with 52 rebounds, 23 of which were offensive, compared to only 34 total rebounds and 10 offensive for Dickinson. 
 
Gill Gerton recorded a double-double to lead the Bears, finishing with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Meghan Fornaro added a strong overall presence for Coast Guard, recording 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. Torie Sutherland tallied 11 points in the game, to go along with seven rebounds and two blocks. Jill Bray rounded out the double figure scorers for the Bears, finishing with 10 points on the day.
 
Sam Kennedy led the offense for the Red Devils, finishing with 17 points. Myonie Williamson was the only other player to reach double-digit points in the game for Dickinson, finishing with 12 points.