Ithaca 76, Utica 49 - Box Score
Ithaca, N.Y. (2/25/2011) – The Utica College women's basketball team fell in an early 20 point hole in the first 10:54 of play and could never recover as the Pioneers lost to host and top-seeded Ithaca College 76-49 in the semi-final game of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament Friday night at the Ben Light Gymnasium. Senior forward Jessica Berry closed out her record setting career with a team-high 23 points and seven rebounds to pace the Pioneers.
UC, which beat Ithaca 38-37 in last year's conference tournament final, shot just 33.9 percent from the
floor as its record fell to 15-11 on the year. Ithaca, which beat UC twice in regular season play, shot an incredible 64.2 percent (34-of-53) from the floor as the Bombers improved their record to 20-6 on the year. Ithaca will now host the conference finals against second-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology on Sunday. Stevens beat St. John Fisher in overtime to earn the right to play in the conference's championship game.
Ithaca led the entire contest and held the Pioneers scoreless until the 14:40 mark of the first half when Berry made a lay-up to cut the Bomber lead to 10-2. Ithaca then went on a 16-2 run over the course of the next 4:58 to take its largest lead of the first half, 26-4, with 9:42 to go before halftime. UC responded with a 16-6 run of its own to cut the Bomber lead back to 12, 32-20, with 2:49 to go. However, Ithaca continued to pour it on and went into the locker rooms with a 16 point lead, 38-22.
The Bombers scored 16 points off of turnovers in the first half and outscored UC 8-2 in the paint.
The second half was much of the same and Ithaca saw its lead extend to as many as 35 points with 10:53 remaining. The Pioneers offense came to life towards the end but it proved to be too late as they lost by 27 points, 76-49.
Senior point guard Stephanie Nara scored seven points on 2-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc off the bench for the Pioneers. Sophomore Meghan Fiore and senior guard Devon Croll each added eight points for Utica.
Four different players scored in double figures for the Bombers including Jessica Farley (24), Kathryn Campbell (15), Devin Shea (12) and Elissa Klie (10). As a team the Bombers also shot 50 percent from beyond the arc. Ithaca dominated on the fast break, outscoring UC 15-0 in that category.
The Pioneers will say goodbye to five seniors including Berry, Croll, Nara, Casey Orlando and Janelle Nixon. This talented group led Utica to two Empire 8 Conference Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearences over the course of the last four years.
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