Ithaca Defeats Cortland, 85-77 in OT, in Battle of Undefeated Squads

More news about: Cortland

ITHACA, N.Y. – Devin Shea scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Jenn Escobido recorded 12 points and 16 rebounds, including the game-tying putback with 10 seconds left in regulation, as Ithaca defeated Cortland, 85-77 in overtime, in a battle of undefeated teams. Ithaca improved to 5-0 with the victory and Cortland dropped to 4-1.

Five Ithaca players scored in double figures. In addition to Shea and Escobido, Jessica Farley finished with 16 points and six assists, Kathryn Campbell had 13 points and nine rebounds and Jacqueline Shinall totaled 11 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Senior Brittany Cohen led Cortland with 16 points, four assists and six rebounds. Junior Katrina Davenport came off the bench to score 15 points, including 3-of-4 three-point shooting, and senior Molly Byrne registered 14 points and team highs of seven rebounds and six assists.

Davenport's layup, off a Byrne feed, tied the game at 71-71 with 2:07 left and the Red Dragons took a 73-71 lead when Davenport hit a jumper from the right baseline, assisted by Megan Touhey, with 22 seconds left. Shea missed a shot with 13 seconds left, but Escobido grabbed the rebound and scored from in close to tie the game. Shea's steal in the closing seconds preserved the tie and sent the game to overtime.

Cortland took a 75-73 lead in the opening seconds of overtime when Byrne was fouled after the jump ball and hit two foul shots. Ithaca, however, scored the next 10 points, highlighted by Farley's tiebreaking three-pointer. Farley and Campbell each made 3-of-6 three-point attempts.

Cortland made 11-of-30 three-pointers, but missed all five of its long-distance attempts in the extra session. Ithaca outrebounded the Red Dragons by a decisive 55-35 count, including 23 offensive rebounds.

Ithaca jumped out to a 15-3 lead to start the game, but Cortland mounted an 18-5 run on six three-pointers, two by Davenport, to take a 21-20 lead. Ithaca led 33-32 at halftime and 57-51 with 10:24 remaining in regulation. Cortland scored seven straight, capped by an Ally Biordi three-pointer, to take a 58-57 lead with 8:34 left, and neither team led by more than three the rest of the second half.

Cortland opens SUNYAC play by hosting Plattsburgh on Friday at 6 p.m. and Potsdam Saturday at 2 p.m.