ITHACA, N.Y. – Union College again hung tough with one of the Liberty League's top teams for three quarters, but the shorthanded Dutchwomen faltered in the fourth in dropping a 59-49 contest to Ithaca College on Saturday afternoon at Ben Light Gymnasium.
 
Senior Nicole Conley led all players on the afternoon with 19 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, while junior Elly Vaughan and freshman Amber Raisner added 10 points apiece as well. Vaughan also chipped in seven boards and three blocks for Union (11-5, 6-4 Liberty League).
 
For the second time this season, Union made things difficult for Ithaca (15-3, 10-1 Liberty League), but the Dutchwomen were unable to take advantage of their chances. The visitors were done in largely by 22 turnovers, which resulted in 24 Bomber points at the other end of the court.
 
Union struggled offensively in the first quarter, hitting only 3-of-10 shots and turning the ball over eight times. The Dutchwomen outscored the Bombers 12-8 in the second stanza, getting a Vaughan three-point play and five points from Conley to close on an 8-2 run to get within four (22-18) at the half.
 
The Dutchwomen played their best ball of the afternoon in the third quarter, when the visitors went on a 13-4 run to take the lead for the first time since the game's opening minute. Senior Sophie Borg started the run with a layup, followed by buckets from Raisner and classmate Anna Metcalf before another Vaughan three-point play knotted the score at 30. Baskets by Raisner and Conley followed to put Union up 34-32 with 1:21 left in the quarter, but five straight Ithaca points gave the home team a 37-34 lead headed to the fourth.
 
In the final frame, Union could not get into a rhythm offensively, connecting on just 3-of-13 shots and adding seven more turnovers to the ledger. After four Ithaca points to start the period, Union could get no closer than five the rest of the way.
 
Union finished the game shooting 36.0 percent (18 of 50) from the field, while Ithaca did not fare much better, shooting 37.5 percent (24 of 64).
 
The Dutchwomen will return home to the Viniar Athletic Center for the next three games, beginning on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. tipoff against Bard College.