Ithaca Travels to Mass. to Face Amherst in Sweet 16
GAME NOTES
MEDFORD, Mass. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team (25-4) travels to the NCAA Sectional Semifinals for the second time in as many years and third time in program history. The Bombers will face Amherst (26-3) at Tufts at 5 p.m. Friday at Cousens Gym. The second semifinal will take place at 7 p.m. between the host Jumbos (28-1) and Castleton (27-3) with the winners of the two games advancing to the quarterfinals. The Elite 8 game will tip off at 5 p.m. Saturday with a berth into the NCAA Final Four on the line.
Tickets will be $7 for adults and $4 for seniors, students and children. Live coverage will be available for all three contests:
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Live Webstream
Ithaca's first appearance in the Sweet 16 came under current head coach
Dan Raymond in the 2002-03 season. Ithaca's 17 consecutive victories match the school record set in 2009 and the Bombers' 25 wins sit second to the school record 27 set last season.
The Bombers outlasted visiting Haverford Saturday evening in Ben Light Gymnasium, 54-43, in the NCAA Regional Finals after defeating visiting Sage, 67-30, in its first-round matchup on Friday.
Ithaca has faced Amherst just once in program history – earlier this season. The Bombers suffered a 66-44 setback to the Jeffs during the Amherst Tip-Off Tournament in November. Ithaca has never played Tufts or Castleton.
The Ithaca Bombers won their third consecutive Empire 8 Championship Tournament to secure their 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in Raymonds 14 years on South Hill. Ithaca is paced by Empire 8 First-Team selection senior
Mary Kate Tierney and classmates
Jenn Escobido and
Kathryn Campbell who were named to the Second Team. Tierney leads the team with 13.7 points per game, while Escobido adds 11.1 and Campbell chips in 11.0. With 12 double-doubles this season, Tierney has a Bomber-best 8.5 boards per contest. Escobido follows with 5.7 and junior
Francesca Cotrupe 5.1. Tierney has a dished out 103 assists and junior
Samantha Klie 98. Tierney has made 46 steals and Escobido 44. Tierney adds a team-high 28 blocks. Ithaca is converting 43.1 percent of its field goals and 68.2 percent of its free throws, while outrebounding opponents by 9.1 rebounds per game. The Bombers rank third nationally with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.30.