Box Score
Ithaca 65, Utica 58 - Women's Basketball Final

Ithaca, NY (2/15/2013) – With the scored tied 47-47 with 8:57 left in regulation, Empire 8 Conference leading Ithaca College closed out the contest with an 18-9 run to earn a 65-56 victory over visiting Utica College Friday night at Ben Light Gymnasium. Raquel Baudanza netted a team-high 16 points for Utica, while senior forward Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) added 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. 

Ithaca improved to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in the Empire 8, while the Pioneers dropped to 12-12 and 7-6 in the Empire 8. 

The teams traded baskets over the first five minutes of action before the home Bombers managed to take its biggest lead of the half, 14-6, at 13:46.  The home team would hold that cushion over the next three minutes before UC put together a run of its own.  Utica rattled off a 14-4 run, over the next seven minutes, to knot the game up 18-18, with 8:32 left to play in the first half. The Pioneers held onto the lead for a brief stint while pushing to their largest advantage of the half taking a 29-24 edge, at 3:12.  However, the top-ranked Bombers didn't back down and regained the lead with a  6-0 strut to close out the first 20 with a slight one point lead, 30-29, headed into the locker room. The first half featured six ties and six lead changes.

UC opened up the second half with momentum and used a 16-9 run to take its biggest advantage of the game off the hands of freshmen Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) and Racquel Baudanza (Staten Island, NY/New Dorp).  The duo combined for 12-of-16 Pioneer points over the initial five minutes of the second to give Utica a 45-39 lead.  However, the home squad would prove tough as it closed out the contest on a 26-13 lead to remain atop the playoff picture and the E8 standings.

Baudanza and Fiore combined for 30 points and 11 boards to guide UC.  Micelli chipped in with 11 points while Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) added seven points and seven grabs for UC.

Four Bombers posted double-digits led by Kathryn Campbell who netted 15 points and grabbed eight boards.  Devin Shea and Mary Kate Tierney each added 14 in the win.

Utica closes out regular season play on Saturday when it travels to Elmira College for a conference contest at 2 p.m.  Ithaca extends its win streak to nine and wraps up the season Saturday at home against Nazareth.

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