SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A late rally by the Skidmore College women's basketball team fell short, as the Thoroughbreds fell to Ithaca 67-61 in nonconference action at the Williamson Sports Center Tuesday evening.
The Thoroughbreds fall to 1-2 on the season heading into the Thanksgiving break. Ithaca remains perfect at 3-0.
Guard
Kelly Donnelly led the way for the Thoroughbreds, notching her first double-double on the season, scoring 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting from the field, adding 12 rebounds and four steals. Forward
Migle Vilunaite grabbed 12 rebounds while scoring seven points, and guard
Meaghan Flanagan also tallied seven.
Guard Jordan Beers led Ithaca with 16 points and added three steals, while guard Ali Ricchiuti added 11. Forward Erin Ferguson tallied six points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. The Bombers defense forced Skidmore into a season-high 25 turnovers.
After a close first couple minutes of play, Ithaca slowly pulled away late in the opening period, scoring the final four points in 2:42 of play to take a 17-11 lead at the end of one. In the second period, Ithaca led by as many as seven points, before Skidmore went on a 11-3 run, taking the 22-20 lead on a Donnelly layup midway through the period. The Ithaca defense clamped down, allowing just two points in the final 5:08 of the first half, taking a 33-24 lead into the break.
In the second half, Ithaca held its largest lead of the game, after a layup by forward Sara Jackson stretched margin to 52-37 in the third quarter. The Thoroughbreds slowly chipped away at the deficit in the fourth. With 37 seconds left in regulation, guard
Veronica Moceri drilled a 3-pointer from the wing, reducing the deficit to six points, at 67-61. After a pair of missed free throws by Ithaca, Donnelly's resulting 3-pointer from the top of the arc just rimmed out, and Ithaca was able to grab possession.
Skidmore's defense came alive in the fourth quarter, holding Ithaca to 15.4 percent shooting (2-for-13) from the field. Ithaca held the shot advantage overall from the field at 36.9 percent (24-for-65) to 34.5 percent (19-for-55), while Skidmore held a slight rebound advantage, 46-44.
The Thoroughbreds will take a short break, returning on Monday to host Sage College in the nightcap of a basketball doubleheader at the Williamson Sports Center at 8 p.m.
