ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team began a key five-game homestand on Friday evening, as Ben Light Gymnasium was packed for a Liberty League showdown against the William Smith Herons. The Bombers took care of business and improved their winning streak to seven in a row and their overall record to 10-7 with a 9-1 mark within the Liberty League. The Herons fell to 2-16 overall and 2-9 in the conference.
 
Ithaca came out flying with an 8-0 run to start the ball game in the opening minutes after a Zoraida Icabalceta step-back three-pointer sent the home faithful into a frenzy. Tori Drevna hit another trey from downtown a couple of minutes later opening the game up to a 14-2 score. William Smith was without their top scorer Amelia McCulley due to injury and the lack of offense was prominent as the Herons had five points after the first quarter. Ithaca built a 16-5 advantage after the first. 
 
The second and third quarters were the Anya Watkins show. She was dominant, especially in the paint as her physicality either got her buckets or got her to the free throw line where she was excellent. It seemed like the Ithaca offense finally found their groove both through transition and settled half-court sets. The jump shots started to fall, and the Bombers exploded for 23 third quarter points granting them a 33-point cushion heading into the final frame. 
 
The Herons had a dominant 4th quarter, but the humongous lead was too large to overcome as the Bombers walked away with a 60-45 win against William Smith. Many of the underclassman on Coach Dan Raymond's bench saw minutes within the fourth including Grace McNamara who shot 5-of-6 from the floor for 10 points, while adding four rebounds.
 
Anya Watkins led the way offensively for the Bombers with 14 points while Molly Walsh had 11 points for the Herons. Ithaca shot 34.7% from the floor and outrebounded the visitors 56-32 to run away for the victory on Friday night.
 
The Bombers next game is against the Union Garnet Chargers tomorrow, Saturday, February 1 at 2 p.m. back at Ben Light Gymnasium.