Ithaca College women’s basketball is now 7-8 after wrapping up a five game home stand with a pair of Liberty League games Jan. 16 and 17. After a tough loss against a good opponent on Friday night, the Bombers bounced back with a blowout win Saturday afternoon.

Game one:

Ithaca College women’s basketball fell to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers 60-49

Jan. 16 at the Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers continued to be exposed underneath the rim all night, an area that they have struggled to find control of throughout their season. 

The Bombers have prided themselves on their pressing all season long, but this time they were matched up with an RPI team that presses efficiently as well. RPI’s speed on the floor helped put them ahead early and they did not look back, with the Bombers never leading and RPI’s lead only growing larger as the night progressed.

Sophomore forward Mary Bernat spent 24 minutes on the court, the third most on the team, being a part of the small group of forwards on the Bombers’ roster. 

“I’m one of few on this team,” Bernat said. “So I know I have to show up for my team even more.”

Despite being a forward, the fast pace of play suits Bernat. Her eight points on 4/7 shooting with two rebounds, two assists and two blocks did not go unnoticed in the loss.

“It gives me the most energy,” Bernat said. “I love a fast-paced game. … The fact that I’m able to play with so many guards, I love to look for other people’s strengths as well as myself.”

Bombers’ senior guard Zoraida Icabalceta has fostered a bigger impact on her squad game by game since returning from injury earlier this season. Icabalceta led her side in scoring with 12 points, shooting 5/9, two of them being threes. She grabbed three rebounds, dished out one assist and grabbed two steals to top it.

RPI’s standouts each found their success either inside the arch or at the free-throw line. 

Just a few possessions in, RPI made the game’s tone clear — fast paced and gritty. Both teams employed their full-court press early, the Engineers’ proving to be more effective, having no trouble getting the ball to mid-court whilst exposing the Bombers’ lack of size under the rim. RPI held a consistent two to three possession lead throughout the first quarter, leading 19-13 after the opening 10 minutes.

Momentum slowed on both ends beginning in the second quarter, which worked in the Bombers’ favor, slowing down the RPI press and eventually tying the game at 21-21 with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter. The pace of play from the first quarter showed its fatigue in the second with each team shooting under 25% from the field in a quarter flurried with whistles. 

RPI remained in front at the half, maintaining a two possession gap from the Bombers, 28-23.

RPI slipped out to a nine point lead at 36-27 out of the half, picking up the pace that was missing from the second quarter. The Bombers matched their opponent’s pace, but struggled to convert in the paint, still trailing by nine at 42-33 by the conclusion of quarter number three.

The Bombers’ nine point deficit became an 11 point one early in the fourth quarter and stayed there for most of the final quarter. The Bombers could not cut the RPI lead to less than nine, with the Engineers’ advantage growing to as much as 14. 

Game two:

Ithaca College women’s basketball handled the Bard College Raptors in dominant fashion 71-45 Jan. 17 at the Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers pulled away with another explosive third quarter highlighted by sophomore guard Madison Gill’s hot hand from three.

The Bombers were undoubtedly dominant all afternoon, not trailing for a single second and having as much as a 31 point cushion. Intensity levels were high straight from the opening tip for the Bombers. Head coach Dan Raymond did not appear fazed by the victory.

“We pressed more, but they didn’t handle it well, so we were able to stay in it,” Raymond said. “It’s one of those things where, yes, I’d like to be able to play this style, this tempo the whole game. But again, it all depends on who you’re playing.”

Raymond’s team stayed true to their trope of forcing turnovers, the Raptors coughing up the ball 27 times, resulting in 31 of the Bombers’ points. 

The Bombers biggest quarter was the third, similar to their win against William Smith College earlier in the week. The second half opened up with a 10-0 run backed by two three pointers from Gill, who went 4/7 from range.

“We came into this game … really prioritizing those little things,” Gill said. “I think that led to big stretches. Really moving the ball around, crashing the [offensive] boards that led to me getting the ball which I was really appreciative of.”

Gill’s performance helped momentum throughout the game and has potential to build momentum for the Bombers’ season with a four game road stretch now approaching. 

“I think we’re gonna be really excited heading into these next few weeks,” Gill said. “A lot of it is bounce back competition. … I think it’s gonna bring a lot of energy.” 

The Bombers did not let Bard get comfy early, pressing with an added fierceness for all of the first 10 minutes. A couple of threes kept the Raptors close for a moment, but the Bombers made sure to capitalize on their own pressing, nabbing 13 points off of five turnovers which earned them a 19-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. 

A defining second quarter saw Bard frustrations begin boiling  as the Bombers ran the floor with ease. Just 20 seconds into the quarter, the Bombers extended their lead to double digits at 21-10 and did not look back, slowly and emphatically extending their lead until the halftime buzzer, ahead 37-20.

The Bombers picked up right where they left off in the second half, going on a quick 10-0 in the first two minutes of the second half, backed by a couple of threes from Gill. From that point on, it was cruise control for the Bombers, letting their offense run through their defense, keeping Bard contained in their own half as much as possible. The Raptors were held to under 10 points in the third quarter, as the Bombers led 59-29 at the conclusion of 30 minutes.

While the Raptors outscored the Bombers in the final quarter, it was the Bombers’ bench that carried most of the fourth quarter load, keeping the margin at 26 points to finish the contest.

The Bombers play the Clarkson University Golden Knights for the first time this season at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23 in Potsdam, New York