ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team earned a 73-49 Empire 8 Conference victory over Houghton College in Ben Light Gymnasium to snap its three-game losing streak. Ithaca is now 12-10 on the season and 8-5 in the Empire 8 with three games left in the regular season.

For the second time in as many games against Houghton this season, the Bombers never trailed. The team shot 43.1-percent from the field (28-for-65), went 8-for-29 from behind the three-point arc and made all nine attempts at the free throw line. Ithaca scored 32 points in the paint and notched 14 off turnovers. The Bombers also assisted on 22 made baskets.

Senior Keri Steele hit a three-pointer to start the contest just 28 seconds in and the Bombers never looked back from there. Ithaca would increase the lead to 7-2 nearly two minutes in, but Houghton closed to a 9-6 gap with 5:19 to play in the period. The Bombers would close out the quarter on a 10-2 run to build a 19-8 advantage heading to the second quarter. 

Sophomore Julie Yacovoni led the way in the first with six points, while junior Ali Ricchiuti and sophomore Jordan Beers each tallied four points.

Ithaca's cushion would grow to 18 points by the 7:12 mark of the second stanza, 27-9, before Houghton put in a basket on the ensuing possession. In all, the Bombers' 17-3 run spanned 8:07 of game time.

Houghton fought back to a single-digit difference, 32-23 with 1:28 remaining in the half, but the Bombers would net the final four points to take a 36-23 lead into the break. Yacovoni and Ricchiuti converted on layups in the final 24 seconds.

The Bombers outscored Houghton, 23-9, in the third quarter to grow their lead to 27 points, 59-32. Ithaca shot 45.0-percent from the floor (9-for-20) and went 4-for-9 from distance (44.4%). Within the first minute of the fourth quarter, Ithaca mounted its largest lead of the game, 64-33. Houghton would go on a 9-0 run to trim the difference down to 24 with 4:07 to play, but that was the closest the Highlanders would get.

Beers led the way offensively with 14 points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting from the floor and 4-for-4 at the line. Ricchiuti finished with 13 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Yacovoni also reached double-digits with 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting with a team-best seven boards.

Nine other players would contribute at least two points in the win. Freshman Allie Tunick chipped in seven points in 14 minutes of action, while classmate Annie Giannone dished out a game-high six assists with five points. Freshman Meghan Pickell also tallied five points in 11 minutes.

Ithaca blanked Houghton from three-point range, as the Highlander went 0-for-14. Houghton did, however, go 23-for-30 at the line and outrebounded the Bombers, 45 to 39.

The Bombers are back in action tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. against Alfred in Ben Light. Ithaca will wrap up the regular season next Friday and Saturday with a pair of E8 contests against Utica and Hartwick.

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