ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team opened up Liberty League play on Friday evening with a road matchup at Vassar College. The Bombers mounted a second half comeback including outscoring the Brewers 21-13 in the third quarter, but it fell short as they fell 60-58.
 
After a scoreless opening stretch, Vassar's Lindsey Shoulders broke through just past the one-minute mark to put the Brewers on the board. Natalie Tucker answered for Ithaca with a jumper at 7:52, giving the Bombers their first points of the game. Vassar built an early 8-2 lead before Grace McNamara converted a layup off a pass from Tori Drevna to keep Ithaca within four. Drevna added two free throws with 2:55 left in the first quarter, cutting the deficit to 10-6.
 
Late in the frame, Tucker finished a layup off a feed from Simone Pintinalli, and McNamara followed with a jumper to pull the Bombers within two. Ithaca trailed 12-10 at the end of the opening period.
 
The second quarter opened with back-and-forth possessions before Vassar strung together two free throws and a three-pointer to extend its lead. McNamara answered with a jumper, but the Brewers maintained an eight-point advantage. Zoraida Icabalceta ended a nearly three-minute scoring drought for Ithaca with 4:12 remaining, making it 22-14. Vassar closed the half strong, taking a 27-15 lead into the locker room.
 
At the break, McNamara led Ithaca with six points and two rebounds, while Tucker added four points, one steal and one assist.
 
McNamara opened the second half with a layup off a pass from Drevna, sparking a Bomber rally. Madison Gill's mid-range jumper cut the deficit to eight, and baskets from Avery McPeek, Gill and Icabalceta brought Ithaca within four at 31-27—the closest margin of the game to that point. Drevna drilled a three-pointer late in the third, and Ithaca entered the fourth trailing 40-36.

The run would continue as Tucker opened the final quarter with a clutch three-pointer to make it a one-point game, but Vassar quickly answered with a triple of its own. With 6:42 remaining, Drevna scored on a layup to pull Ithaca within three at 45-42. Kenzie Perluke added a layup off a Pintinalli assist, and Tucker's basket made it 49-48.
 
The Bombers grabbed their first lead with 3:11 left when Gill converted a tough driving layup. Drevna put Ithaca back in front with 41 seconds remaining, 56-55, but Vassar responded immediately. Tucker tied the game at 58-58 with two free throws in the final seconds, but the Brewers sealed it with two free throws under 10 seconds.
 
Tucker paced Ithaca with 14 points, two steals and three assists. Drevna followed with 12 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.
 
Ithaca falls to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in conference but will look to snap its three-game losing streak tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. against Skidmore College.