After going undefeated in the Empire 8 for eight straight games, the women’s basketball team had figured out the essence of winning.

Opponents have struggled to both score points and stop the Bombers in those eight games. A different kind of opponent though, would prove to be instrumental in ending the streak: two games in back-to-back days.

After defeating Stevens Institute of Technology by a score of 49–47 on Jan. 25, the Bombers had just a few days to get ready for a game at 6 p.m. that Friday against Elmira College at home, and a game at 2 p.m. the next day at Utica College.

Following the Stevens victory, Head Coach Dan Raymond said he was happy with the team’s ability and knowledge on how to finish games.

“We have a really good grasp of who we are and what we have to do to win games,” he said. “A lot of that comes from our seniors with their mentality of working hard.”

With this upcoming stretch in mind though, Raymond said he knew the physical and mental toll on the athletes during these two games would be tough. He said the Bombers would need to have solid bench play in both games.     

“The bench will have to come in and contribute for us to be successful,” he said.

The Bombers went into the Elmira game with strength and determination in mind. From the start though, the game proved to be another tough conference battle.

After being down almost the entire game, the Bombers rallied in the final 10 minutes and tied the game with a layup by sophomore forward Elissa Klie with 11 seconds to go. Though the team was happy to be going into overtime, the idea of having an extra period did not bode well for the next day. That did not stop the team from playing hard though, as Ithaca finished off Elmira in the overtime period with a score of 66–63.

Senior forward Tracy Bradley said the team’s determination kept it in the game.

“Even after we didn’t play well, Coach still told us that we won because we had heart,” Bradley said.

Because the game was so close, the bench did not log as many minutes as Raymond had hoped. The starters did play well though, each making significant contributions late in the game.

Bradley and Klie recorded double doubles, and the only question was if they could do it again less than 24 hours later.

With the bench well rested from the day before, the Bombers went to Utica College determined for another win.

Once again though, Ithaca trailed for the majority of the game. Only junior Lindsay Brown managed to get into double figures with 11 points.

With starters in foul trouble and a bit weary from the night before, the bench came out strong and put in some solid minutes. Junior forward Jeanine Burke grabbed seven rebounds and scored six points in 26 minutes, while sophomore Jordan Confessore scored nine points.

The team battled throughout the whole game, causing 20 Pioneer turnovers, but as the minutes ticked off the clock, the fatigue set in.

As the athletes’ bodies became worn and sore, the Blue and Gold’s energy was finally depleted. After two days of constant play, the Bombers were doomed to their first conference loss by the score of 56–45.

“I think it was harder because we weren’t used to playing back-to-back games like that,” Klie said. “It came down to being able to stay in the game physically and mentally.”