ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team came away with a 60-49 Empire 8 Conference victory on Saturday afternoon over Hartwick College inside Ben Light Gymnasium on Senior Day. Ithaca improves to 20-3 on the season and 12-2 in the Empire 8 behind a career performance from junior Jordan Beers, who scored a career-high 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Ithaca got on the board first in the contest as senior Shayna Gaskins hit a jumper with 7:36 to play, which sparked a 6-0 run. Beers tallied the other four points on two mid-range jumpers.

Hartwick finally snapped its scoreless drought to begin the game at the 5:12 mark, and proceeded to score the next six points to tie the game up with 3:30 to play in the quarter.

IC responded with a 9-2 run to close out the period to build a 15-8 lead at the conclusion of the quarter. Sophomores Sara Jackson and Annie Giannone drilled 3-pointers to highlight the run.

Both teams got off to another slow start in the second stanza, as it took nearly three minutes for a bucket to fall. Beers made another jumper at the 7:22 mark to give Ithaca a 17-8 lead. Nearly a minute later, sophomore Meghan Pickell hit an elbow jump shot to the Bombers their first double digit lead of the game at 19-8 with 6:25 remaining.

The Hawks would remain scoreless in the second period until there was 3:59 left on the clock. Hartwick battled back to a 21-15 deficit with just over two minutes left in the half, and the teams would trade baskets the rest of the way, as Ithaca went into the break with a 25-17 lead.

Hartwick came out of intermission with four straight points, all from the line, to get back to within five at 25-20. With 6:30 remaining in the quarter, senior Erin Ferguson drilled a baseline jumper to spark an 8-0 run, which gave the Bombers a 33-20 lead with 5:01 to go.

The Bombers would maintain their double digit advantage until Hartwick hit a 3-point at the buzzer to cut the lead to 42-33.

Beers put Ithaca back up by 11 points at 44-33 less than a minute into the fourth quarter, but Hartwick fought back to a 44-40 spread with 6:04 left in the game. Beers then took the game over and scored 12 of Ithaca's next 14 points to put the game out of reach.

Junior Erin Woop and Ferguson helped seal things off with makes from the charity stripe down the stretch, while the Bombers' defense remained unrelenting in the 11-point win.
 
In addition to Beers' career day, Ithaca got a solid contribution from Ferguson. The senior forward finished with 10 points and six boards, while also adding two blocks and an assist. Woop chipped in a team-high nine rebounds and three assists.

Freshman Cassidy O'Malley scored six points and pulled down two boards. Junior Julie Yacovoni scored four points and swatted three shots, while Giannone and Jackson each knocked down a triple in the game.

Ithaca returns to action on Tuesday, February 14, when it travels to Utica. Opening tip against the Pioneers is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.