ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team led by as many as 42 points on Tuesday evening and cruised to a 78-50 victory over New Paltz inside Ben Light Gymnasium to improve to 9-2 on the season. Ithaca forced New Paltz to turn the ball over 30 times, which translated for 31 points in the game. New Paltz is now 5-7 on the year.

The Bombers opened up the contest shooting 4-for-5 from the floor to build a 9-0 lead in just 2:22 of game time. New Paltz answered with four straight, but Ithaca responded with nine of the next 11 points scored to end the quarter with an 18-6 edge. The Bombers went 8-for-13 at the free throw line in the stanza.

Seven different Bombers scored in the quarter, led by five from junior Jordan Beers, who finished the night with eight points.
As the second period got underway, Ithaca continued its impressive start with a 13-2 run, which was halted by a timeout called by New Paltz with 6:21 remaining in the half and the score read 31-8. Over the final six-plus minutes, Ithaca increased its advantage to 44-17 heading into the break.

Freshman Cassidy O'Malley tallied eight points in the frame on 3-of-4 shooting to pace the offense. Junior Julie Yacovoni had three steals and three rebounds in the half, while senior Erin Ferguson netted all seven of her points over the first 20 minutes.

Ithaca's suffocating defense forced 20 turnovers in the half, which led to 19 points. The Bombers shot 14-for-32 from the field and 15-for-20 at the line over the course of two quarters.

The Bombers increased their lead by seven points in the third quarter, as they outscored New Paltz, 18-11, and took a 62-28 difference to the final period of play. In the third, Ithaca mounted its largest lead of the game of 42 points with 3:54 to go, 60-18. Throughout the fourth quarter, IC maintained at least a 30-point cushion until New Paltz sunk a basket with 39 seconds left to account for the final tally, 78-50.

O'Malley concluded the evening with a game-high 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with a pair of rebounds and blocks. Yacovoni filled the stat sheet with seven rebounds, six steals and five points.

Sophomore Meghan Pickell was next in line with nine points, while senior Ali Ricchiuti and sophomore Sara Jackson each chipped in seven points.

Junior Erin Woop and sophomores Allie Tunick and Meghan Mazzella each contributed four points, while senior Shayna Gaskins added five. Sophomore Annie Giannone and freshman Mia Herlan rounded out the contest with three and two points, respectively. Junior Allison Spaschak dished out a team-best three assists.

All 14 players that dressed for the game saw at least eight minutes of action.

Ithaca ended the night shooting 27-for-60 from the floor (45.0-percent) and 21-for-28 at the line (75.0-percent).

The Bombers return to action on Thursday as they travel to St. John Fisher College for a 6 p.m. tip in Pittsford. IC will then host Nazareth on Saturday at 2 p.m.