Bombers Spoil Stevens' Winning Streak With 55-52 Women's Basketball Win
ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca women's basketball team (11-5, 7-0 Empire 8) solidified its hold on first place in the Empire 8 standings, turning back second-place Stevens (12-2, 5-1 Empire 8) 55-52 Friday. The Ducks had their nine-game winning streak spoiled while the Bombers extended their Empire 8-record winning streak to 25 straight conference games, dating back three years.
The Bombers took the lead for good with seven minutes to play and extended their lead to eight before turning back a late Stevens rally. Ithaca opened a 50-42 lead with 3:56 with junior guard Jessica Farley (Pine Valley Central/South Dayton) and senior guard Jordan Confessore (South Brunswick/Kendall Park, N.J.) both converting three-point plays in Ithaca's 8-0 run. Stevens followed with a 7-2 run, then -- after three more points by Confessore put Ithaca ahead 53-47 -- used a three-pointer with 41 seconds left and a lay-up 11 seconds later to pull to within a point. Freshman guard Elisabeth Wentlent (Greene/Greene) gave Ithaca breathing room with a pair of free throws and the Ducks missed a pair of three-point tries on their final possession.
Ithaca's 55 points were 10 more than Stevens -- who entered the game second in Division III in scoring defense -- had been allowing. The Bombers also outplayed Stevens on the glass; the Ducks had the nation's fifth-best rebounding margin at +14 but Ithaca -- who started only one player over 5-10 -- matched their rebounding total.
Confessore led Ithaca in scoring, netting 15 points off the bench. She added five rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists. Freshman Kathryn Campbell (Wall/Spring Lake, N.J.) added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Farley finished with nine points and five of Ithaca's 19 steals (the Bombers forced 25 Duck turnovers, turning them into 22 points). Senior forward Elissa Klie (Ramapo/Wyckoff, N.J.) recorded seven points, six rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots.
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