ITHACA, N.Y. – Junior
Ali Ricchiuti of the Ithaca College women's basketball team netted a career-high 30 points to lead Ithaca to a comeback victory over the United States Coast Guard Academy, 69-65, on Saturday afternoon in Ben Light Gymnasium. The contest was the final game of the IC Invite.
Ricchiuti went 9-for-12 in the game, 5-for-8 from three-point range and 7-for-8 at the free throw line. She also grabbed four rebounds to go along with two steals and two assists in 31 minutes played.
The Bombers struggled offensively in the first half, shooting just 19.2-percent from the field, and never held a lead. Ithaca stayed in the contest over the opening 20 minutes by connecting on 14-of-17 attempts from the free throw line.
Ricchiuti led the Ithaca offense in the first half with 10 points and two rebounds despite playing in foul trouble. Ricchiuti went 4-for-4 at the line and made a pair of three-pointers to account for her total. Sophomore
Jordan Beers netted seven points in the first half and made all five of her attempts at the foul line. Junior
Shayna Gaskins contributed five points and four rebounds (three offensive) in eight minutes.
Ithaca took its first lead of the game, 62-61, with 3:47 left on a mid-range jumper by Ricchiuti. A pair of free throws from Coast Guard gave the Bears the lead by at 63-62 on the ensuing possession. The Bombers regained the lead on their next trip down with a hard-fought put back from Gaskins, and Ithaca never trailed again. The Bombers iced the contest with five made free throws over the final 2:32.
Coast Guard got to within a 66-65 difference with 2:09 left on free throws, but missed its final three shots of the game.
Beers tallied 16 points with four rebounds and three assists, and went 10-for-11 at the line. Junior
Erin Ferguson added 11 points and eight boards, while Gaskins finished up with seven points and five rebounds.
Sophomore
Julie Yacovoni snagged a team-high nine rebounds with two points and two steals. Classmate
Erin Woop handed out a team-high four assists with three rebounds, a block and steal in 30 minutes in a reserve role. Freshman
Allie Tunick added two points, while senior
Keri Steele pulled down four rebounds.
Despite the slow start in the first half, the Bombers turned things around over the final 20 minutes and shot 55.6-percent from the floor (15-for-27). Ithaca was also plus-11 in rebounds, 37 to 26, and made 18 more free throws than the Bears, 24 to six.
The Bombers return to action on Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. against Cortland in Ben Light for another non-conference game. Ithaca will then host St. Lawrence on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m.
