ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team held the visiting Skidmore Thoroughbreds to just 10 points within the second half as the Bombers were able to run away for a 62-40 win on Friday evening. The Bombers have now reeled off nine-straight to improve their record to 12-7 overall and 11-1 within the Liberty League.
The game began with
Annabella Yorio winning the tipoff, passing the ball to
Emma Waite. The Bombers quickly scored on their first possession with a basket from
Anya Watkins. Skidmore fouled on the Bombers second play, leading to two points from
Annabella Yorio from the charity stripe. Skidmore kept it tight in the beginning, swiftly answering the Bombers baskets with their own. A standout play in the first quarter was a fast-break layup on a long pass from
Emma Waite that was finished off by
Elizabeth Majka. However, the Thoroughbreds kept the game close, answering with a layup of their own on the next play. Skidmore then went on a 7-0 scoring run late in the first quarter, causing Ithaca to take its first timeout with 3:39 left. Skidmore took their first lead of the game with 2:11 remaining. The first quarter ended with the Thoroughbreds leading 17-14.
The second quarter began with an early basket from Skidmore's Emily Plage, which
Emma Waite responded to with a corner three, closing the Skidmore lead to two points. With 8:35 remaining, two made foul shots from
Anya Watkins tied the game at 19.
Jillian Payne then put the Bombers in the lead with a three-point play consisting of a layup and a foul shot (22-21). The Bombers went on a 9-0 run throughout the second quarter, which was ended by Skidmore's Amedia Medolla going 1-of-2 on foul shots. Ithaca struggled to break Skidmore's full-court press late in the second quarter, causing one turnover and one jump ball. The Bombers went into halftime with an eight-point lead (38-30).
Standout statistics from the first half included
Anya Watkins with 10 points and five rebounds, and
Emma Waite leading the Bombers with 11 points and three assists. For Skidmore, Claudia Schneider led with eight points and three rebounds, while Emmy Plage followed with five points and two rebounds. At the half, Ithaca had a perfect free throw percentage (5-of-5), while Skidmore went 2-of-3 at the line. Both teams had seven turnovers.
The second half opened with a layup from Skidmore's Cassie Davidson, answered by a putback from Ithaca's
Annabella Yorio. The early parts of the third quarter consisted of an exchange of fouls and jump balls, leading to a scoreless minute that ended with a two-point jump shot from
Emma Waite. Late in the third quarter, both teams struggled to score. A three-point play came from
Annabella Yorio with 50.8 seconds left in the quarter, from a layup and a foul shot. The third quarter ended with the Bombers leading by nine (47-38).
The fourth quarter began with the Bombers in possession, as
Anya Watkins opened the scoring with an easy layup.
Zoraida Icabalceta put up a three-point attempt that was rebounded by Watkins and found its way back to Zoraida for a successful three-point play. Ithaca dominated the boards with defensive rebounds, shutting down Skidmore's offensive momentum halfway through the fourth. Skidmore struggled to score against the tenacious Bombers defense.
Emma Waite led the Bombers with 18 points, three assists, and seven rebounds.
Annabella Yorio and
Anya Watkins were offensive threats in the paint with 13 points each. Watkins led the team with 9 rebounds, and Yorio had four. Skidmore's points leaders were Claudia Schneider with 10 points and five rebounds, and Cassie Davidson with eight points and three rebounds.
Next up, Ithaca will host RPI on Saturday where they will also celebrate Senior Day and the careers of
Jillian Payne,
Anya Watkins,
Annabella Yorio and
Isabella Mittelman in a pregame ceremony. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
