ITHACA, N.Y. (February 14, 2015) – Ithaca College defeated Stevens Institute of Technology by a score of 61-42 Saturday afternoon in Ben Light Gymnasium in an Empire 8 women's basketball game.
 
The loss drops Stevens into second place in the Empire 8 standings behind the Bombers with an E8 record of 12-2 (19-3 overall). Ithaca improves to 19-4 overall and 13-1 in the conference, halting the Stevens winning streak at eight games in the process.
 
The first half featured strong defense from both sides as the Bombers took a 19-18 lead into the intermission. Stevens shot just 24 percent (6-for-25) in the opening 20 minutes, going 6-for-8 at the line and getting 10 combined points from juniors Miranda Ripken and Kaitlyn Astel. Ithaca shot 20.6 percent from the floor but held a 13-5 edge on the offensive glass.
 
An early three-pointer from junior forward Dylan Krause tied the score at 21 with 19:11 to play in the second half, with the Bombers jumping up by eight points at the 14:11 mark thanks to a 10-2 run.
 
The guests quickly countered, running off five quick points from Ripken and sophomore forward Brittany Washington to get back within three (31-28), and another pair from Washington made it a two-point game with 12:21 on the clock.
 
From that point, the host Bombers clamped down on defense and went on a game-deciding 22-3 run over a span of 6:34, settling on a 56-35 edge with just 5:47 remaining in regulation. Ithaca hit four three-pointers in the spurt.
 
Ripken scored nine points on five shots, adding five rebounds and two assists to her line. Astel finished the contest with nine points, six rebounds and two helpers, with sophomore Erica Guketlov notching four points, four rebounds and two assists. Washinton led the Ducks off the bench with five points, eight rebounds and two steals, while freshman forward Megan Brown had five points, five rebounds and two assists.
 
The Ducks shot 28.6 percent from the field and were 1-for-14 from long range, ending the game with 11 assists and five team steals. Stevens' largest lead of the night was seven points with 5:28 to play in the first half.
 
Ithaca shot 33.8 percent from the floor but held a 52-40 margin on the glass, assisting on 17 of their 22 made baskets. The Bombers compiled eight total steals and received 24 points off the bench, getting five or more points from seven players.
 
Ithaca is now alone atop the Empire 8 standings in first place, and Stevens is in second. St. John Fisher College and Nazareth College – the Ducks' final two conference opponents – are in third and fourth with the hosting rites going to the regular-season conference champ.
 
Stevens will host Muhlenberg College Tuesday night in the Canavan Arena before it welcomes Naz (Friday) and Fisher (Saturday) to Hoboken to close out the regular season.
 
Saturday will serve as Senior Day and will also be a #RedOUT sponsored by the Stevens alums. All fans are encouraged to wear red to the game.