ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team returned to action on Saturday in a home back-to-back, this time hosting Skidmore College as the teams came into the day sitting in second and third within the Liberty League. The Bombers started the game hot from 3-point range as they led 20-13 after the first quarter, but the Thoroughbreds continued to chip away and ended up winning 66-59. The loss drops Ithaca to 13-3 overall and 7-2 within the LL as Skidmore improved to 13-4 and 8-2 in conference.
The Bombers opened on a 10-2 run seeing a pair of layups drained by both
Anya Watkins and
Annabella Yorio along with 3-pointers that were knocked down by
June Dickson and
Camryn Coffey. IC would go up by 13 points when Coffey sunk another trey, this time it was assisted by
Tori Drevna with 3:30 left in the quarter. Yorio would draw a foul and knock down both from the free throw line with the Bombers maintaining a healthy lead at 20-11, but Skidmore's Julia Blanck would do the same on the other side of the floor with the Bombers carrying a 20-13 lead into the second quarter.
Skidmore brought the game within two points at the 6:33 mark of the second with a pair of Blanck free throws but
June Dickson had an immediate response knocking down a jumper in the paint. Emmy Plage was fouled and she converted to give the Thoroughbreds their first lead of the afternoon at 27-26. Tough defense on both ends of the floor would ensue for the next six minutes as the Bombers would regain the lead when
Anya Watkins nailed another layup putting her team up 31-29 with 1:36 left in the half. Watkins would show her composure as she hit a layup just before time expired as IC went into the break leading 36-33.
It proved to be an even third quarter with both teams scoring 14 points apiece, but runs were made by both teams keeping it within a two-possession game. The Thoroughbreds used an 8-1 run to go up 48-38 with 3:58 left, but Ithaca scored nine-straight to close the quarter including a
June Dickson trey as time expired.
In the fourth quarter, the teams traded baskets until Skidmore's defense made things hard to come by as Ithaca was only able to hit one basket from the field during the final five minutes of play. Julia Blanck scored the teams final five points as she netted a game-high 29 points as it finished in a 66-59 final in favor of the visitors.
Ithaca will look to return to its winning ways as the team embarks on a five-game road tilt beginning with an away contest against William Smith on Friday, January 26. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.
