Box Score | Game Highlights

TROY, N.Y. - Ithaca College scored 20 of the 26 fourth quarter points and the Bombers forced nine turnovers in the final 10 minutes to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 55-44 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. Ithaca improves to 12-3 overall and 7-1 in the conference, while the Engineers drop to 8-7 and 3-5.

Following a first half that saw 12 lead changes, both teams scored nine points in the third quarter with Rensselaer leading 38-35 going into the final frame. A three-pointer from Ithaca's Kellyanne O'Reilly tied the score within the first minute and the Bombers took their first lead since the second quarter on a free throw from Megan Yawman. LaKissa Martin put the Engineers back in front with a put-back, but Cassidy O'Malley scored on a turnaround shot that she banked in from close range for a 41-40 edge with just under eight minutes to play.

Ithaca scored the next five points to make it a six-point game (46-40) before Martin cut it to four on a short jumper with approximately three minutes to go. Megan Pickell made 1 of 2 free throws and Elizabeth Eckhardt pulled the Engineers to within one possession (47-44), but Annie Giannone connected with O'Malley on a pick-and-roll that resulted in a three-point play with two minutes to go for a 50-44 lead. The Bombers then made five free throws down the stretch for the final margin.

Giannone finished with a game-high 17 points, including 5 of 6 from the free throw line, along with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. O'Malley had 15 points and four rebounds and Grace Cannon scored 10 points with six caroms.

Martin and Eckhardt, both seniors, tied for team lead with 14 points apiece. Martin also had five rebounds, which tied two others for second on the team. Sam O'Keefe, another senior, had six rebounds with two assists for RPI, which shot 32.0% (16 of 50) in the game, but only 3 of 12 (25.0%) in the fourth quarter.

The Engineers host Union College in a Liberty League game on Saturday at 2pm, while Ithaca, which made 36.7% (22 of 60) of its shots, plays at Skidmore College at 1pm.