Women's Basketball | 1/30/2016 8:11:00 PM

Box Score ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team had its four-game winning streak come to an end by way of a 63-54 Empire 8 Conference loss at Nazareth on Saturday afternoon in Kidera Gymnasium. With the loss, Ithaca splits its season series with Nazareth and falls to 11-8 on the year and 7-3 in the Empire 8. The Golden Flyers improve to 14-5 and 7-3 on the season.

The first quarter was tight for all 10 minutes as neither team led by more than four points. Junior Erin Ferguson scored the game's first basket just 16 seconds in, but Nazareth knotted things up 30 seconds later. Naz would go ahead by four at 10-6 by the 6:09 mark and then the Bombers answered with four straight to mark a 10-10 tie midway through the quarter on a jumper by sophomore Jordan Beers.

Nazareth regained the lead, 12-10, with 3:23 to go and held on until freshman Annie Giannone put Ithaca in front, 13-12, with 15 second left. The Golden Flyers answered with five seconds to play to take a 14-13 lead into the second period.

The Bombers took a 15-14 lead as the second quarter got underway, but Nazareth snatched the lead back and held on up until 4:44 left when junior Shayna Gaskins put Ithaca back up, 25-23. The Golden Flyers answered with five quick points to go ahead by three, 28-25, and went into halftime with a one-point edge, 28-27.

Nazareth took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Bombers, 21-12. By the end of the period, the Golden Flyers owned a 10-point cushion at 49-39. Ithaca's deficit grew to 20 points at 63-43 with 3:36 left in regulation. The Bombers would hold Nazareth scoreless for the remainder of the contest, but still fell, 63-54.

Ithaca shot just 31.7-percent from the floor (20-for-63) and 26.3-percent from three-point range (5-for-19). Nazareth connected on 39.7% of its shots (23-for-58) and made nine three-pointers.

Ferguson led the offense with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Beers added 11 points and six boards, with three assists. Senior Keri Steele chipped in eight points, while freshman Annie Giannone tallied six points and four boards.

Junior Ali Ricchiuti and sophomore Allison Spaschak each contributed six points. Ricchiuti also pulled down six rebounds.

The Bombers are back in action on Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. against St. John Fisher in Ben Light Gymnasium.