Box Score
BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College women's basketball team closed the game on a 11-0 run to shock Ithaca College, 71-66, in the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday evening at Morrell Gymnasium.
Sophomore Marle Curle hit a pair of huge three-pointers to help the Polar Bears (25-4) rally from a seven-point deficit with under four minutes to play to advance to their 11th "Sweet Sixteen" and first since 2012. The Bombers finish their season with a record of 23-6.
Bowdoin advances to play Montclair (N.J.) State in the Sectional semifinals next Friday evening. Sectional sites will be announced on Sunday.
Curle hit a game-tying and go-ahead three-pointer to finish with a career-high 23 points. She also had five rebounds and four steals, including a swipe with under two minutes to go with the game tied at 66. Shannon Brady scored 21 points and had five rebounds and five blocks in the win for Bowdoin while Kate Kerrigan had 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Ithaca featured a balanced attack that was led by 14 points from Samantha Klie, who also had four assists. Alex Gilligan and Keri Steele had a dozen points for the Bombers while Ally Mnich had 11.
After the teams traded seven-point runs to open the game, the squads settled into a back-and-forth rhythm with neither team taking command of the contest. Bowdoin was able to open up an eight-point lead late in the first half, only to see Ithaca rally to tie the game with a 10-2 run. Curle connected on a three-pointer with 38 seconds left in the period to give Bowdoin a 38-35 lead at the break.
Bowdoin pushed their lead to eight again early in the second half, but Ithaca wouldn't go away, drawing within one point on a Gilligan three-pointer with 9:58 on the clock. After Bowdoin regained a three-point edge, Gilligan nailed another three-pointer to deadlock the contest at 58 apiece with 7:50 to go. After the teams exchanged scoreless possessions, Ithaca took their first lead since the opening half when Mnich hit a pair of free throws to give the visitors a 60-58 advantage. Mnich continued the run for Ithaca with a three-pointer and Klie hit a running lay-up to cap a 10-0 Bomber run, forcing a Bowdoin timeout with 4:03 remaining, trailing 65-58.
Ithaca maintained a six-point lead, 66-60, with under three minutes to play before Bowdoin began its decisive run. The surge started quietly with a free throw from Brady and two from Curle that trimmed the lead to 66-63 with 2:37 to go. Klie missed a jumper for Ithaca and Brady grabbed the rebound. Bowdoin brought the ball down court to Curle, who set up from well beyond the three-point line and buried the game-tying shot, 66-66, with 1:13 to go.
With a chance for Ithaca to regain the lead, Curle stepped up again for Bowdoin, stealing the ball. With the shot clock running down and the game clock under 1:15 to play, Curle set up from the top of the arc and swished another long three-pointer to give the Polar Bears a 69-66 lead. Ithaca had several chances to cut into the Bowdoin advantage, but missed a pair of free throws. Keri Steele stepped up for a potential game-tying three-pointer, but Brady blocked the shot and gained the rebound. Bowdoin sealed the win at the free throw line to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Ithaca out-rebounded Bowdoin 44-37 and the Polar Bears shot 42% for the game, holding the Bombers to 36%. Both teams connected for seven three-pointers in the contest. The Polar Bears improved to 14-0 at home this season with the victory.
