Bombers Advance In NCAA Playoffs With Record-Setting Win
ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College women's basketball team (24-4) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament with an 84-37 win over Elms (20-9). The win was Ithaca's school-record 24th win of the season and marked the program's biggest margin of victory ever in an NCAA playoff game. Ithaca will host Bowdoin Saturday at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the NCAA sectionals.
Sophomore forward Jenn Escobido and sophomore guard Kathryn Campbell both scored 19 points to lead Ithaca. Escobido, who played just 22 minutes, made eight of her 12 shots from the floor and pulled down six rebounds. Campbell added seven rebounds, three assitsts and two steals.
The Bombers used a huge run in the first half -- seven minutes of scoreless play by the Blazers put them in 23-4 hole -- as they scored 21 straight points. The Ithaca defense turned in another strong effort; Elms was the 10th Bomber opponent this year held to 40 points or fewer (a school record).
Senior guard Jess Farley recorded nine points, eight rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Mary Kate Tierney led Ithaca with five assists off the bench; junior center Devin Shea and senior guard Jacqueline Shinall added four apiece. Shea also blocked a career-best five shots -- one short of the program's NCAA playoff record -- and pulled down eight rebounds.
The last time Bombers reached the second round of the NCAA playoffs was 2005; that year the Bombers beat Colby-Sawyer in the first round before losing at Southern Maine -- the team that Bowdoin beat in Friday's first game.
The 2003 and 2005 teams held the previous school record with 23 wins.