School-Record Stinginess Highlights Ithaca Win Over Utica
ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College women's basketball team (15-3, 7-0 Empire 8) rolled to a 61-29 win over Empire 8 rival Utica (7-11, 2-5 Empire 8) in an Empire 8 game Tuesday at Ithaca's Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers committed just seven turnovers, one less than the previous program low.
Ithaca entered the game ranked second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.18) and improved that mark by collecting 22 assists while turning the ball over only seven times. The Bomber defense forced 24 Pioneer turnovers -- including five shot-clock violations (all in the first half). Utica was held scoreless until the 9:45 mark, having recorded seven missed shots and seven turnovers before scoring a point.
Sophomore forward Jenn Escobido (Norwich Free Academy/Lisbon, Conn.) notched her sixth career double-double, leading Ithaca with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Junior center Devin Shea (St. Basil Academy/Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) added eight points; she and sophomore guard Elisabeth Wentlent (Greene/Greene) both had a team-high four steals. As a team Ithaca pilfered a season-high 18 steals.
Junior forward Elizabeth Conti and senior guard Jess Farley (Pine Valley Central/South Dayton) both scored seven points. Farley contributed five rebounds and three steals. Sophomore guard Mary Kate Tierney (Our Lady of Mercy/Rochester) finished with seven rebounds, six points and three assists.
Freshman forward Samantha Klie (Ramapo/Wyckoff, N.J.) led Ithaca with a career-best five assists; Wentlent had four.
After not holding an opponent below 30 points in Dan Raymond's first 10 years as head coach, the Bombers have now accomplished the feat twice this season (Potsdam scored just 26 points in a December loss to Ithaca).
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