SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team hit the road for the first day of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Enfield/Naismith Classic, battling Tufts University on Tuesday. The Jumbos held the Bombers to just six points in the fourth quarter, securing a 57-42 victory. Both teams will compete again on New Year's Day, with the Bombers facing Middlebury College at 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

In the final game of 2024, both teams struggled from the field, with strong defensive efforts on both sides. The Bombers shot 35.3% from the field, while Tufts converted at a 35.8% clip. The Jumbos held a 36-30 advantage in rebounds, with Monet Witherspoon leading all scorers with 19 points. Elizabeth Majka netted 11 points for the Bombers, followed by Annabella Yorio who scored 10.

Tufts opened the scoring just under 40 seconds in, with Mikayla Paquette scoring on a driving layup. The Jumbos went up 8-4 three minutes into the matchup. Anya Watkins netted her first basket of the afternoon to cut into the deficit, but Tufts extended to nine points twice, including at 17-8 when Annie Aspesi converted a layup. Paquette knocked down a pair from the free throw line with under a minute left in the period, giving the Jumbos a 19-10 lead.

Tori Drevna splashed a 3-pointer to begin the second quarter, but the Jumbos extended their lead to double digits at 25-15 with 5:52 remaining after Sophia Davis scored a fastbreak layup. They maintained the advantage, leading 32-19 at halftime.

The Bombers played their best basketball in the third quarter, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and outscoring Tufts 17-14. Good ball movement sparked the IC run, and they trailed by six (35-29) following a Majka layup assisted by June Dickson. Majka scored eight of her team-high 11 points in the quarter.

Annabella Yorio knocked down a pair from the free-throw line, and Tori Drevna scored on a jumper from the top of the key as Ithaca opened the fourth quarter on a 4-0 run, trailing 46-40. However, the Bombers scored just two more points in the final 8:28, allowing Tufts to hold on for the 57-42 win.

Ithaca will continue its six-game stretch away from Ben Light Gymnasium on Wednesday afternoon, taking on Middlebury at 12 p.m. Later this week, they will travel to play at Trinity College (Conn.).