ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A 29-point fourth quarter propelled the Ithaca College women's basketball team to a 73-67 upset victory over No. 9 the University of Rochester on Saturday afternoon at the Louis Alexander Palestra. With the win, Ithaca improves to 7-1 on the season, while Rochester falls to 6-2.

Ithaca, which lost to the Yellowjackets last season, 74-71, trailed by seven points after three quarters of  play, 51-44. The Bombers battled back to take a 58-57 advantage with 3:57 left in the final period and went up by as many as eight points, 67-59, with 1:53 to go. Rochester got back to within three points at 68-65 with 41 second on the clock, but Ithaca put the game away by converting 5-of-6 free throw attempts.

Senior Ali Ricchiuti led the Bombers offense with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with four rebounds and three steals. Junior Julie Yacovoni scored 14 of her 15 points in the first half and grabbed six rebounds, while senior Erin Ferguson contributed 13 points and four boards.

Junior Erin Woop and sophomore Allie Tunick each added six points, while sophomore Meghan Pickell and freshman Cassidy O'Malley both chipped in four points.

Ithaca got off to a quick start in the game with the first four points of the contest, both baskets from Ricchitui by the 8:34 mark of the opening stanza. Rochester tied the game up at 4-4 nearly two minutes later, but the Bombers immediately went back in front on a layup from Ferguson. The first quarter would be deadlocked three more times, with the final stalemate coming at 12-12 with 3:25 to play. The Yellowjackets would go on a 6-0 run over a three minute stretch to build an 18-12 advantage and closed out the quarter with a 20-16 lead.

Rochester went up by as many as 12 points in the second quarter at 33-21 midway through the frame, but the Bombers chipped away to a one-point difference by halftime, 35-34. Yacovoni scored 11 points during the comeback.

The Bombers held early leads of 36-35 and 38-37 in the third quarter, but a 3-pointer from Rochester with 8:00 to play put the Yellowjackets ahead for the rest of the period.

Ithaca shot 30-for-65 (46.2-percent) from the field, while Rochester went 24-for-60 (40.0%). The Bombers capitalized in the turnover battle, as they outscored Rochester, 22-6, off giveaways.

Up next for the Bombers is Alfred University on January 3 at 6 p.m. in Ben Light Gymnasium.