Saints Fall to Ithaca 76-68 in EC Tip-Off Classic Championship
BOSTON – Emmanuel College (1-3) fell to Ithaca College (3-1) by a score of 76-68 in the championship game of the 40th Annual EC Tip-Off Classic. The two sides each held fourth quarter leads before the Bombers held on to a late advantage and secured the victory.
BOSTON – Emmanuel College (1-3) fell to Ithaca College (3-1) by a score of 76-68 in the championship game of the 40th Annual EC Tip-Off Classic. The two sides each held fourth quarter leads before the Bombers held on to a late advantage and secured the victory.
Paris Atuahene (Phoenix, Ariz.) got the Saints off to a hot start with an and-one finish 13 seconds into the matchup. The Bombers responded, trading blows with the home team throughout the first quarter. Emmanuel hung on to a 17-15 lead after ten minutes.
In the second quarter, the Saints were able to extend their lead. Two more baskets from Atuahene and five points for Olivia Matela (Swampscott, Mass.) helped the Saints improve their advantage to six at the halfway point.
Just two and a half minutes into the third quarter, Ithaca stormed back to erase the Emmanuel lead. Two Camryn Coffey (East Hanover, N.J.) three pointers and an Annabella Yorio (Summit, N.J.) mid-range jump shot knotted the game up at 34 as Saints Head Coach Andy Yosinoff called a timeout. The Bombers took a lead and were able to extend it to as many as eight in the quarter, but a Matela jump-shot and a three pointer with four seconds to go brought the Saints back within three at 50-47 prior to the final period of play.
Within a minute, a basket from Desiree Robinson (New Haven, Conn.) and a layup from Megan Reilly (Southbury, Conn.) allowed the Saints to retake a 51-50 lead. Emmanuel and Ithaca were locked up at 57 before the Bombers erupted for a 7-0 run. Ithaca hung on to the lead for the remaining four minutes with Emmanuel never getting closer than four to take home the EC Tip-Off Classic Championship and a 76-68 victory.
Matela and Atuahene led all scorers with 19 points each. Robinson also chipped in 15 points. Reilly added six points and 15 rebounds for the Saints. Zoraida Icabalceta (Falls Church, Va.) led all players with 12 assists. June Dickson (Culver City, Calif.) led the Bombers with 18 points while Coffey contributed 16.
Following the game, Megan Spina (Seldon, N.Y.) of St. Joseph's (L.I.), Olivia Matela and Desiree Robinson of Emmanuel, and Camryn Coffey and Zoraida Icabalceta of Ithaca were named to the EC Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament team. Ithaca's June Dickson was awarded the tournament's Most Valuable Player Award.
Up next, Ithaca will travel to St. John Fisher University for an Nov. 28 matchup at 6 P.M. The Saints will return to Andy Yosinoff Court on Nov. 28 when Westfield State visits at 7 P.M.
