SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team returned to Liberty League action on Friday evening in a road matchup against Union College. Despite trailing 52-36 entering the fourth quarter, Ithaca mounted a comeback, outscoring the Garnet Chargers 26-14. However, it turned out to be too little too late as they fell 66-62. The loss drops Ithaca's overall record to 3-7 and 2-1 in conference play.
The teams got off to a cold start from the field, with the first basket not recorded until Jenna Forman's put-back for the Garnet Chargers at the 7:06 mark of the first quarter.
Zoraida Icabalceta splashed a 3-pointer to knot the score at 3-3 with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter. Grace Ardito matched with a trey of her own shortly after and hit again with 1:42 remaining, putting Union up 11-6. They led 14-7 at the end of the opening period.
Jelena Perovic drove to the cup a little over a minute into the second quarter, extending Union's lead to 16-7. The Bombers cut into the deficit with Icabalceta earning an and-one that made it 18-10. However, Union extended its advantage to double digits with another 3-pointer (21-10), and Kate Peek hit from downtown, putting the Garnet Chargers up 26-12 with 4:38 remaining in the half. Good ball movement from IC saw
Tori Drevna convert a 3-pointer assisted by
June Dickson, making it 30-16 in favor of Union. With under a minute remaining, Jenna Forman drove the paint, and her layup went through the net as Union led 36-18 going into the halftime break. Icabalceta netted 11 of the team's 19 points in the opening half as the Bombers were held to just 4-of-30 shooting from the floor.
Baskets were again hard to come by to open the third quarter, with
Elizabeth Majka tallying the first and converting on the and-one, making it 36-21 with 8:42 left in the period. From there, the teams traded baskets, with neither team able to go on a sustained run until Union stretched it to 45-27 after going 1-of-2 from the free throw line.
The Garnet Chargers carried a 52-36 lead into the final 10 minutes of play. Ithaca opened the period on a 6-0 run, capped by
Tori Drevna connecting from downtown, cutting the deficit to 52-42 with 8:17 remaining. Icabalceta cut the Union lead to just eight points (54-46) with a step-back jumper and then hit from 3-point range, giving her 19 points and making it 56-49. The Ithaca run continued, and they got within striking distance with Icabalceta knocking down another 3-pointer, cutting it to 58-53 with under five minutes remaining.
Things remained close and competitive, with
Elizabeth Majka driving to the hoop with under a minute remaining, kissing it off the glass and cutting the deficit to 63-60.
Emma Waite saw her layup blocked on the ensuing possession, and with under 10 seconds,
Tori Drevna scored on a layup, but Union held on for the tight 66-62 win.
Next up, the Bombers will remain on the road with a quick turnaround at William Smith on Saturday, January 11. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
