ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team defeated Empire 8 Conference rival Nazareth College, 72-48, on Tuesday evening in Ben Light Gymnasium. With the win, Ithaca snaps its four-game losing streak and improves to 4-6 overall, while extending its consecutive wins over Nazareth to 26 games.
The Bombers held Nazareth to 24 points below its season average (72.6) and scored 18 more points than the Golden Flyers are allowing through nine games this season (54.3).
Ithaca jumped out to a 9-0 lead within the first 1:15 of the game and continued to build its advantage up to a 26-12 difference by the end of the period. Sophomore
Jordan Beers notched eight points in the frame, while senior
Keri Steele added five. The Bombers shot 68.8-percent over the first 10 minutes of the contest.
As the second quarter got underway, the Bombers continued their hot shooting, connecting on four of their first five shots in a 3:01 span to take a 37-19 lead. Ithaca would go on a scoreless drought of 2:25, but responded with eight points in a matter of 1:36 to take a 24-point lead into halftime, 48-24.
Steele hit four three-pointers in the second quarter to account for 17 first half points on 6-of-8 overall and 5-for-5 from distance. Beers went 5-for-6 in the half for 13 points, while junior
Kiera Murray added five points in the second quarter.
The Bombers made 10-of-16 shots from three-point range and went 19-for-31 overall in the half. Nazareth was held to a 37.0-percent in the first half (10-for-27) and made just one three-pointer in 10 attempts.
Nazareth trimmed three points off Ithaca's lead after the third quarter, 63-42, but the Bombers would hold the Golden Flyers scoreless for 6:07 to start the fourth quarter and put the game away, 72-48.
Steele and Beers each finished the game with 17 points, while junior
Erin Ferguson added 13 points, three blocks and three rebounds, and Ricchiuti chipped in 12 points with four boards, four assists and two steals.
Freshman
Annie Giannone dished out four assists with four points, while junior
Shayna Gaskins pulled down five rebounds and notched two blocks.
The Bombers return to action on Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. for another Empire 8 game at Houghton.
