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ITHACA, N.Y. -- Host Ithaca surged to a 16-1 lead to begin Saturday's Empire 8 women's basketball contest against Nazareth. The Bombers went on to defeat the Golden Flyers 69-48. Senior Brittany Patenaude had a team-high 14 points and seven rebounds to lead Nazareth.

Following the loss, Nazareth drops to 7-4 overall and 1-1 in conference games. After the victory, Ithaca improves to 10-2 overall and 2-0 in Empire 8 games. Saturday's game marked the Bombers' 17th consecutive victory over the Golden Flyers. Nazareth last defeated the Bombers during the 2002-03 season.

Ithaca took control of the first half thanks to its defense. The Bombers forced Nazareth into 10 turnovers and challenging shots. Ithaca held Nazareth without a field goal for the first 7:39 before sophomore Becca Rumschik was successful on her drive to the basket. With about two minutes remaining in the first half, Ithaca had held the Golden Flyers to nine percent (2-22) from the field. Nazareth finished the period shooting 16.7 percent from the field (4-24) following consecutive jumpers by Patenaude.
 
A free throw by Patenaude, followed by her two jumpers and a free throw by freshman Maria Allocco gave Nazareth a quick 6-0 scoring run in the final 1:25 of the half. Ithaca's Jacqueline Shinall connected on a jumper as the half ended to give the Bombers a 39-16 advantage at halftime.
 
In addition to their defense, the Bombers built their lead by dominating in rebounds. Ithaca finished the first half with a 32-16 advantage in total rebounds, including 12 offensive rebounds. For the game, the Bombers had a 55-37 advantage in total rebounds.

The Golden Flyers outscored the Bombers 32-30 in the second half, but were unable to challenge Ithaca's lead. Nazareth's defense stopped Ithaca's offense on four of the Bombers' first five possessions to give the Golden Flyers life. Nazareth chipped into its deficit following free throws by senior Katie Kollar and Patenaude and baskets by senior Brittany TallChief and Patenaude.
 
After Ithaca extended its lead to a game-high 30 points midway through the period, the Golden Flyers were able to get within 17 points, 62-45, with about three minutes left in regulation. A three-point basket by sophomore Jessica Huang and a two-point jumper by freshman Hannah Runyon capped the scoring run.

In addition to the points by Patenaude, Runyon finished with nine points for Nazareth's offense. Senior Erica Shaw, Kollar, and Allocco each added five points for the Golden Flyers. The Bombers' stymied senior Brittany Wilson throughout the game. Wilson was held scoreless and was forced into making eight turnovers. In the second half, Nazareth rebounded to shoot 37 percent (10-27) from the field in the second half.

Kathryn Campbell and Jessica Farley recorded 18 points and 11 points, respectively, to lead Ithaca in scoring. Devin Shea and Jenn Escobido each had eight rebounds.

The Golden Flyers return to Nazareth on January 10th for a non-conference contest against Maine-Fort Kent.