Box | Updated stats
ITHACA, N.Y. – Top-seeded and host Ithaca took an early lead Friday against Nazareth in a first-round game of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament and the Bombers went on to take a 72-53 women's basketball victory over the Golden Flyers.

Ithaca improved to 22-4 overall and will play for its fourth straight conference title and seventh overall Saturday at 4 p.m. when the Bombers host the winner of Friday's second game between second-seeded Stevens (22-3) and third-seeded St. John Fisher (19-6). Nazareth, with its highest victory total since 2001, finishes 15-11 overall.

Ithaca senior Francesca Cotrupe led all scorers and rebounders with 19 points and 12 rebounds respectively. Sophomore Ali Ricchiuti had 11. Junior Lindsey Kelly was Nazareth's high scorer with 14 points. Juniors Sam Sorge and Kelly Broderick each added 12. Broderick's points came on four second-half three-pointers.

Early baskets by Kelly and Sorge enabled the Golden Flyers to take a 4-3 lead, but Ithaca scored the next nine points to go up 12-4 with 12:44 to go in the half and never trailed again. Cotrupe completed a three-point play with :21 left in the half to give the Bombers their largest lead of the opening 20 minutes at 30-19. Nazareth's Veronica Peck drove to the basket and scored as time expired to trim the deficit to nine points, 30-21, at the half.

Nazareth made just 8 of 29 shots (27.6 percent) in the first half with just one three-pointer. Kelly scored eight of Nazareth's points. Ithaca made 11 of 30 first-half shots (36.7 percent), including three three-pointers.  Cotrupe had nine points and eight rebounds in the first half and sophomore Alex Gilligan had eight, including a pair of three-pointers.

The Bombers used a 13-5 scoring run, fueled by six points from Ricchiuti and four from Cotrupe, to go up 43-26 with less than 15 minutes to play.
Nazareth scored eight straight points to close within nine, 43-34, after a free throw by Peck with 10:44 to go, but Ithaca pulled away again with the help of three baskets by Cotrupe and the lead never left double figures thereafter.

Nazareth remained competitive until the end, but Ricchiuti and Ally Mnich each hit back-breaking three-pointers in the last five minutes to seal Nazareth's fate.

Ithaca made 26 of 59 shots (44.1 percent) overall with six three-pointers. Nazareth was 19 for 60 (31.7 percent) with five three-pointers.