CANTON, N.Y. – With the Bombers 72–53 over St. Lawrence University on Saturday afternoon, the No. 11 Ithaca College women's basketball team clinched the No. 1 seed in the Liberty League tournament and will host a semifinal bout in Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers trailed by three at the half, going for 28 points in the third quarter to put the game to rest.
Camryn Coffey led all scorers, going for 16 points while adding six rebounds.
Hannah Polce finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists and
Emily Dorn had 11 points and eight rebounds.
Annabella Yorio also chipped in nine points and seven rebounds.
Both teams started the afternoon cold offensively with no score through the first three minutes. The Bombers got the scoring started with a layup by Dorn, but the Saints put together a 9–2 scoring run from seven points by Jackie Malley, quickly taking a 9–4 lead. The Bombers found its groove with 2:43 left to play as Coffey drew a foul and drained her free throws. Dorn, Yorio and Coffey then scored on three consecutive possessions and the Bombers took a 12–9 lead. A late basket by the Saints brought the game within one, and the Bombers led 12-11 after the first.
The Bombers took a quick four-point lead with a jump shot from
Natalie Smith and a free throw by Dorn, but the Saints hit a three to go back down by one. Both teams began to hit its stride offensively, as both teams took it to one another offensively. Baskets by
Cara Volpe and Dorn kept the Bombers' one possession lead, but a three by the Saints with 5:36 left to play tied the game at 19–19. Another basket gave the Saints the lead, but Coffey responded with a big three, and Yorio followed with a basket to restore the Bombers three-point lead.
The Saints took advantage of a two-minute drought for the Bombers, hitting an 8–0 run to take a 29–24 lead with 1:50 left in the half. Good ball movement from the Bombers gave Coffey and Yorio easy baskets to bring the Bombers within one, but a late basket gave the Saints a 31–28 lead at the half.
The Bombers came out of the half firing for a 12–2 scoring run in the first three minutes. The Bombers defense was nearly impossible to break through in the quarter, giving up just seven points. Smith tied the game with a three, and
Lindsey Albertelli got on the board for four points in the stretch. Polce took over midway through the quarter, rattling off 12 points in the final six minutes. Polce converted two and-one opportunities and drained three jump shots helping the Bombers take a huge 56–38 lead with one quarter remaining.
Coffey opened the fourth with three-pointer and Yorio converted an and-one to put the Bombers up by 24 points. The Saints got its offense going midway through the quarter, finding an 8–2 run.
Shae Sabino drained a three with just over three minutes to play, giving the Bombers its 20-point lead back. The Bombers finished out the final three minutes, finishing with a 72-53 victory.
With this afternoon's win, the Bombers clinch its fourth consecutive regular season title, and will host a Liberty League tournament game for the fourth straight year. This also marks the Bombers 15th consecutive win as Ithaca look to continue to rise in the national rankings with two games remaining on the schedule. The Bombers will travel to Bard College for a 5:30 tipoff on Friday.
