Box Score Box
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Ithaca outscored visiting Nazareth 44-22 in the first half, and the Bombers went on to defeat the Golden Flyers 75-50 in a women's Empire 8 Conference basketball game on Friday evening. Sophomore Lindsey Kelly scored a team-high 14 points for Nazareth.

With the loss, the Golden Flyers slip to 7-13 overall and 2-8 in Empire 8 games. Following the victory, the Bombers improve to 15-6 overall and 9-1 in conference games. With its current losing streak, Nazareth has slid to sixth in the conference standings. Ithaca stands in second, a half-game behind Hartwick, who is 10-1 in the Empire 8. Elmira (6-3) and Stevens (7-4) are currently third and fourth, respectively.

Following back-to-back baskets by juniors Hannah Runyon and Melissa Reeves, Nazareth took a 4-2 lead 2:01 into the first half. Ithaca, however, answered with a 17-2 scoring run spanning 5:24 to claim a 19-6 advantage. Kelly scored the Golden Flyers' field goal during the run. With Nazareth's shooting struggles and the Bombers' shooting accuracy, Ithaca stretched their lead to 22 points at the break.

Ithaca built its first-half lead with torrid shooting and challenging defense. In the opening 20 minutes, the Bombers connected on 18-27 (67 percent) of their field goal attempts, including 5-6 (83 percent) from outside the arc. Nazareth, meanwhile, connected on just 8-35 (23 percent) shots from the floor and were 0-11 on their three-point attempts.

In the second half, the Golden Flyers' defense cooled Ithaca to 10-26 (39 percent) from the field, but Nazareth was unable to cut into their deficit. The Golden Flyers improved to 10-29 (35 percent) on their field goal attempts in the second stanza. Baskets by senior Megan Morrison and Kelly brought the Golden Flyers back to within 19 points, 52-33, with 14:35 to play in regulation. Nazareth, however, was unable to overcome its first-half deficit, and Ithaca's offense answered to put the Bombers' lead back above 20 points.

In addition to the points from Kelly, eight additional players scored for the Golden Flyers. Senior Anna Wicks had seven points while junior Maria Allocco and Runyon each had six points. Sophomore Veronica Peck finished with five points while classmate Julia Brew and Morrison each recorded four points apiece. Freshman Hayley Spoljaric and Reeves both chipped in another two points. Nazareth finished 12-13 (92 percent) on their free throw attempts. Spoljaric had a team-high seven rebounds for the Golden Flyers, who finished with 32 total boards. Ithaca collected 44 total rebounds.

Mary Kate Tierney had a team-high 14 points for the Bombers, followed by Kathryn Campbell who added 11 points. Tierney and Campbell scored 21 of their total 25 points in the opening half as each connected on 4-6 field goal attempts. The girls combined for five three-point baskets in the opening 20 minutes to help Ithaca build its lead.

Nazareth is in action again on Saturday when the Golden Flyers host Houghton at 4 p.m.