ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team fell in the second round of the NCAA tournament to Marietta College, 44–42, ending its season. The Bombers and Pioneers went head-to-head in Ben Light Gymnasium on Saturday night, where both teams battled in a great game that came down to the final seconds.
Marietta came out victorious with great play in the first and fourth quarters. After a great first quarter, the Bombers broke open the game in the second quarter, with an incredible 9–0 run to open the period. After a hot 3-for-5 start from three-point range, the Pioneers cooled down, finishing 0-for-18. The Bombers controlled a three-score lead through the third quarter, but the Pioneers chipped away at the lead through the fourth. The Bombers' last score came with 4:51 remaining, setting the way for the Pioneers' comeback win.
The Pioneers took the early advantage scoring on its first two possessions, including a three by Paige Tolson for a quick 5–0 lead. The Bombers had several good looks early, but could not find a basket until a great stretch by
Cara Volpe brought the game to 5–4. A three by Marietta's Devin Hefner extended the Pioneers' lead to four, but it was Volpe again for the Bomber's first six points and free throws by
Hannah Polce to level the game at 8–8 with 5:35 left to play.
A three by Kelly Levering marked the 3-for-5 start from behind the arc for the Pioneers, but
Camryn Coffey answered at the other end with a three to bring the game back within two points with 2:40 left to play. Both teams made big defensive stands in the final minutes as neither offense had great opportunities to score. In the Bombers' final possession of the quarter,
Zoraida Icabalceta banked in a circus shot with a defender in her face as the shot clock sounded. The Bombers stuffed a final chance for the Pioneers, and the score was deadlocked at 13–13 heading into the second quarter.
Emily Dorn gave the Bombers its first lead of the day with a baseline jumper. In typical fashion, the Bombers tightened defensively, not giving up a score through the first six minutes of the quarter. The Bombers took a five-point lead with a great drive and kick from Volpe to
Natalie Smith for the three. Volpe and Smith alternated the next two scores, extending the Bombers' lead to 22–13 and forcing a Pioneers' timeout.
The Pioneers ended the Bomber's big run with a 6–0 run of their own to make it a 22–19 score. Marietta looked to tie the game with several looks behind the arc but got nothing to fall. Coffey ended a four-minute scoring drought, converting an and-one. Coffey flew into the paint for an offensive rebound and muscled her way to the rim for the basket, giving the Bombers a 25–19 lead at the half.
The Bombers continued its momentum into the second half, extending the lead to 30–21 through the first three-and-a-half minutes. Both teams struggled to build any significant momentum as they went cold from the field midway through the quarter. Marietta sank free throws with 6:34 remaining, and neither team found a score for the next four-and-a-half minutes as the Bombers led 30–23.
Immediately out of a timeout in the final minutes, the Pioneers ended the big drought with an easy basket and the Bombers followed quickly on the inbound, finding Dorn for a layup. Heading into the fourth, the Bombers led 32–25.
Olivia Gribble cut the lead down to five on the Pioneers' first possession. Smith answered at the other with a three to extend the lead to eight and Volpe gave the Bombers its biggest lead of the game with a layup on the next possession at 37–27.
The Pioneers continued to heat up offensively, driving to the basket and getting to the line for scores. The Bombers continued to respond to the Pioneers' best efforts early in the quarter, highlighted by a tough floater from Coffey and Volpe chipping away at the foul line. Leading 42–35 with three minutes left to play, the Pioneers hit a quick 5–0 scoring run to cut the Bombers' lead to two points with 1:45 left.
With a Bombers drought lasting nearly the final five minutes, the Pioneers stormed back for the tying basket with 53 seconds left. Both teams traded possessions over the final minute, not finding a winning score until Devin Hefner was sent to the foul line after a tussle for a rebound with 2.8 seconds to go. Hefner sank her free throws to put the Pioneers up 44–42 and the Bombers last effort was stuffed by great defense from the Pioneers.
Marietta College advances to the Round of 16 of the NCAA tournament. The Bombers finish its season with a 24–5 record.
