ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College Bombers scored the first points of the game and never trailed, defeating the Houghton College Highlanders 73-49 on Friday night.
 
Houghton trimmed an early 18 point lead by the Bombers to nine with less than a minute to play in the first half, but Ithaca scored the final four points of the half and entered the break up, 36-23.
 
A huge third quarter by the Bombers all but sealed the victory, as Ithaca outscored the Highlanders 23-9.
 
Houghton outscored the Bombers in the final quarter, but never came closer than a 24 point deficit.   
 
Game Vitals:
      >Score:  Houghton College - 49  |   Ithaca College - 73
      >Records:  Houghton College: 9-14 (3-11 Empire 8)   |   Ithaca: 12-10 (8-5 Empire 8)
      >Venue: Ben Light Gymnasium, Ithaca, NY    |    Attendance: 265
 
Clutch Performances:
The Highlanders:
      >Maisie Pipher (Lowman, NY, Twin Tiers Christian) picked up her 10^th double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.
      >Elle Reed (Sherman, NY, Sherman Central School) chipped in eight points, eight rebounds and four assists.
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The Bombers:
      >Jordan Beers and Ali Ricchiuti scored 14 and 13 points apiece, respectively.
      >Julie Yackovoni collected 12 points and seven rebounds.
       
Stat Analysis:
      >Ithaca's bench scored 39 points as 12 different Bombers found their way into the score book.
      >The Bombers shot a consistent 43 percent from the floor for the game and sank all nine foul shots they attempted.
      >Houghton shot below 20 percent in the first half but managed to shoot only 27 percent from the floor in the second.  They did not convert a single three-point basket (0 for 14).
 
Next Time Out:
Houghton travels to St. John Fisher tomorrow to take on the Cardinals at 2:00 p.m. The Highlanders dropped the earlier matchup this season, 86-101.