Box Score HOBOKEN, N.J.  (February 9, 2013) – Despite having three players in double figures, the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team dropped a tough 55-48 decision to Ithaca College Saturday afternoon in the Canavan Arena.
 
Junior guard Molly Spadaro (Sewell, N.J.), freshman forward Dylan Krause (Atlanta, Ga.) and junior guard Lisa Tessitore (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) all had 10 points for the hosts but the Bombers did enough down the stretch to improve to 20-2 overall and 11-1 in the Empire 8. Stevens fell to 12-11 overall and 6-6 in the conference.
 
Stevens played well early on, jumping out to an 8-2 lead following a steal and layup from Spadaro. The Ducks were able to maintain a solid working margin through the midway point of the first half, but the Bombers reeled off five-straight points to take a 18-17 lead at the 9:19 mark.
 
Ithaca's lead went to as much as three, but the Ducks closed the half strong, eventually taking a 25-24 lead into the locker room thanks to a pair of Avis Benjamin (Queens, N.Y.) free throws with 3:00 on the clock.
 
Ithaca opened the second period with a 9-0 run to take a 33-25 edge with 16:01 to play, but Stevens hung tough, battling back to cut the Bombers lead to one point at 35-34. Ripken and Benjamin each had buckets with Krause nailing a three-pointer with 11:50 left.
 
A stop and jumper from Tessitore gave Stevens the lead at 36-35, and another Krause triple from the top of the key made it 39-37 Ducks with 10:39 on the clock.
 
The Bombers scored five-straight points to re-take the lead for good, and did enough at the line and on defense to hold on for the win. After falling behind by four points with 5:37 to play, a Spadaro layup trimmed the Ithaca lead to two points, but a 3:37 scoring draught hamstrung the Ducks' chances to overcome a very strong Ithaca team.
 
Stevens shot 33.9 percent from the floor and 8-for-11 at the line. The Ducks were out-rebounded 36-30 but tallied 14 steals as a team. Ripken had three, while Spadaro, Krause, Benjamin, senior forward Maggie Kowalska (Edison, N.J.) and Tessitore all had two. Kowalska also had two blocked shots, while Krause grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Ithaca shot 44.7 percent from the field, 4-for-12 from three and 17-for-28 at the line. Junior guard Kathryn Campbell (Wall, N.J.) led four Bombers in double figures with 12 points and junior guard Mary Kate Tierney (Rochester, N.Y.) tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Ithaca clinched the top seed in the Empire 8 Championship with the win.
 
The Ducks will return to action on Friday night at Alfred University. Game-time is slated for 8 p.m.
 
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