ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team proved why they were the No. 1 seed heading into the Liberty League Championship as the Bombers breezed past RIT, 64-48, inside Ben Light Gymnasium on Friday evening. The win improves Ithaca's overall record to 18-7 and extends its winning streak to 16 straight games.
After
Anya Watkins won the starting tip off it took a few possessions to get the offense flowing with an eventual 3-pointer from
June Dickson to start off the scoring. It was quickly answered with a two-pointer from the Tigers Faye Kaplinski. Dickson then took a mid-range jumper to answer right back. Good defense from the Bombers led to limited shot attempts from RIT early on.
Emma Waite made a big trey that electrified the crowd off an assist from
Avery McPeek late in the first quarter to push the scoring for the Bombers.
Madison Gill's 3-pointer and a layup with seconds remaining in the first quarter allowed the bombers to go into the second quarter with a 19-8 lead over the Tigers.
RIT started off the second quarter scoring with an early layup which was swiftly answered by a 3-pointer from Dickson. With 5:14 remaining in the second quarter Dickson put an end to a three minute scoring drought. Another 3-pointer came with two seconds remaining in the shot clock from
Zoraida Icabalceta to bring the Bombers lead to 29-16 with three minutes remaining in the half. Great Bomber defense throughout the second quarter continued limiting the Tigers to only 18 points within the first half.
Notable efforts on the rebounding front from the first half include Dickson with five and Watkins with three, while Icabalceta led the team with four assists at the half. Dickson dropped 10 points in the opening half and was closely followed by
Madison Gill with nine points. For RIT, Hannah Durand had six points within the first half. At this point Ithaca has gone 50% from behind the 3-point line (5/10 on shots) while RIT went 0-for-6.
Tori Drevna started off the second half scoring with a swiftly made layup within the first minute of play. Back-to- back 3-pointers by Dickson and Drevna stretched the Bombers lead to 17 with 6:36 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Back-to-back buckets from Watkins further extended the Bomber lead up 20 (45-25). At the end of the third quarter Bombers led, 47-33.
Drevna kicked off the fourth quarter and Bomber scoring with a made jumper. Huge 3-pointer from Waite off an assist from Icabalceta kept the Bombers 3-point attempts rolling late into the through the final stanza. This was quickly responded to by Tigers, Caroline Henderson, who sank a pointer of her own.
Mary Bernat,
Grace McNamara, and
Madalyn Barrows, along with
Isabella Mittelman finished off the game, ensuring a solid victory, 64-45.
Emma Waite led the Bombers in scoring with 14 points closely followed by Dickson with 13 of her own. Watkins led the team with nine rebounds, while Waite also led the team in assists.
After an impressive win, the Bombers will the host the Liberty League Championship Final on Sunday against Vassar College in Ben Light Gymnasium on Sunday, March 2. Game time is slated for 3 p.m.
