ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team hosted Clarkson University on Friday evening and the Bombers were able to run away in the second half winning 59-42. With the win, head coach
Dan Raymond surpassed 500 career wins at Ithaca College as the program's all-time winningest coach now has a career record of 516-176, highlighted by a 500-165 record with the Bombers.
IC opened the scoring with
Annabella Yorio sinking a pair of free throws just over a minute into the game. The Golden Knights struggled offensively until Cassidy Dumont drove to the basket to tie the game four minutes in. Bella Doyle then hit a layup to give Clarkson a 4-3 lead.
Madison Gill responded with a three-pointer, putting Ithaca back on top at 6-4 with 3:38 left in the first quarter. Gill hit another three-pointer, making it 10-9 in favor of Clarkson. The teams traded layups in the final 15 seconds, with Clarkson leading 12-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Fallon Griffin started the second quarter with a jumper in the paint, while turnovers began to trouble Ithaca's offense. Despite this, the Golden Knights couldn't extend their lead and called a timeout with a narrow 16-15 advantage midway through the period.
Annabella Yorio then hit an uncontested jumper from the top of the key, and on the next possession, she drove to the paint for a layup, putting Ithaca back in the lead at 20-16.
Anya Watkins would tally her first bucket of the evening when
Emma Waite assisted after driving along the baseline. The Bombers would go into the halftime break with a three-point advantage (22-19).
Both teams struggled with turnovers in the first half, combining for 26, with Clarkson accounting for 17 of them. The Golden Knights shot 43.8% from the floor, while holding Ithaca to just 7-of-26 shooting. Ithaca pushed the pace in transition and extended their lead to 31-24, with
Annabella Yorio leading the break. Out of a timeout, Clarkson responded with a Cassidy Dumont three-pointer, and she then drove to the paint to cut the deficit to 31-29.
Madison Gill earned a crucial and-one, extending Ithaca's lead to 36-31 with 2:02 left in the quarter.
Ithaca carried a 40-33 lead into the fourth quarter, and
Elizabeth Majka matched an opening bucket by running in transition and converting.
Annabella Yorio knocked down four free throws after being fouled on back-to-back possessions, helping Ithaca build a double-digit lead at 46-35. The Bombers extended their scoring run, leading 53-37, with
Madison Gill earning another and-one opportunity, which she converted. Ithaca would hold on down the stretch for the 59-42 victory. The Bombers picked it up within the second half and especially the fourth quarter as they held Clarkson to nine points.
Annabella Yorio finished with a game-high 17 points as
Madison Gill also finished in double figures with 12 points. Next up, the Bombers close out the backend of a home back-to-back when they host St. Lawerence University on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
