SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team fell to RIT, 68-61, in the semifinals of the Liberty League tournament.
 
Despite trailing for much of the first half and into the second half, the Bombers staged a comeback to overcome a 15-point deficit and take the lead by the end of the third quarter.
 
With 6:46 left in the third quarter, RIT took its biggest lead, 45-30, following two Tara Lynch free throws but IC's Allison Spaschak drained a three to give the Bombers a boost.
 
Cassidy O'Malley followed that up with two free throws before Allie Tunick hit a shot from behind the arc to cut the Tigers' led to single-digits once again.
 
O'Malley, Annie Giannone and Julie Yacovoni each hit a layup to bring the Bombers within three points, 47-44, with just over three minutes left.
 
Another Yacovoni layup following by a three from Sara Jackson gave IC its first lead since the 6:21 mark in the first quarter. Giannone ended the quarter on a high note with a layup with just two seconds left, giving the Bombers the 51-48 edge heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
Yacovoni netted a layup to start things out in the fourth quarter before RIT scored six straight points to take back the lead. Lynch and Jessica Glaz hit back-to-back layups before Lynch hit two free throws in a row to give RIT the one-point edge.
 
A layup from Meghan Pickell put the Bombers up 55-54 with 6:02 left to play, but Glaz netted a layup for the Tigers to take back the lead. RIT would then hold the lead for the rest of the game.
 
RIT went on to score six straight points to take a 62-55 lead with just under three minutes left to play.
 
Pickell drained a jumper to bring it back down to a five-point gap, but Cori Akada answered right back with her own jumper.
 
The Bombers would bring the game within five points two more times; the final time on a Pickell free throw with just 17 seconds left. RIT hit two more free throws to end the game with the win.
 
Ithaca was led by O'Malley who finished with 16 points and three blocks on the day. Yacovoni ended with 12 points and 13 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season.
 
RIT had five players in double-figures. The Tigers were led by Amanda Olsen with 15 points and 12 rebounds as well as Lynch who also scored 15 points. Glaz ended with 13 while Okada had 12 and Sabrina Wolfe scored 11.
 
The Tigers advance to tomorrow's championship game against Skidmore at 2 p.m. while Ithaca drops to 20-7 on the season. The Bombers will now wait to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Division III selection show is set for Monday at 2:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.