SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's basketball team outscored Ithaca College in each of the last three periods, but the Garnet Chargers came up one point short in a heartbreaking 54-53 loss to the Bombers on Saturday afternoon at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
In her first action in over a month, sophomore Grace Ardito provided a huge spark off the bench for Union (6-13, 5-7 Liberty League), pouring in 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 17 minutes. Junior Emma Riley and senior Kennedy Clark added 11 points apiece for the Garnet Chargers.
 
Hannah Polce scored a team-leading 14 points for Ithaca (15-3, 9-2 Liberty League), followed by Camryn Coffey with 11 points.
 
Ithaca scored on five of its first six possessions to jump out to an early 11-3 lead 3:46 into the game, and the Bombers grew their lead to as many as 10 after a pair of Annabella Yorio free throws with 2:36 put the visitors up 18-8. Back-to-back buckets from Riley and senior Maddy Mandalinci got Union back within six and the home team finished the opening frame down eight at 20-12.
 
The Garnet Chargers started the second stanza on an 8-2 run thanks to five points from Riley and a three by sophomore Grace Arcoleo to get within two at 22-20 three minutes in. It remained a two-possession game for the remainder of the second frame, with Union getting within three before a Ithaca layup put the visitors up five (31-26) at the half.
 
Ardito exploded off the bench in the third period to keep Union in the game, scoring eight straight points for the home team to get Union back within a bucket at 39-37 with 4:11 left in the frame. Four points by Riley helped the Garnet Chargers remain within four points headed into the fourth, down 45-41.
 
Another Ardito three followed a bucket by sophomore Jelena Perovic to make it a 48-46 game with 7:23 on the clock. After two Ithaca free throws, Ardito connected again from long range to give Union the lead at 51-50, and two freebies by Clark increased the lead to three with 2:32 remaining. Union had two chances to score on their next possession after a Bomber bucket but could not convert, and two free throws with 1:12 left put the Bombers back up a point at 54-53. A Union turnover was followed by an Ithaca miss, giving the home team one final possession with 12 seconds left. Having to go the length of the court after a timeout, the Garnet Chargers did not have time to run a play and, as a result, a last-second shot went wide and allowed Ithaca to escape with the win.
 
Neither team had the shooting touch on the day, as Union finished at 33.9 percent (19 of 56) from the field and Ithaca ended up at 32.7 percent (17 of 52). The Garnet Chargers hit 9-of-21 attempts (42.9 percent) from long range to stay in the game, but the Bombers outscored Union 16-6 at the free-throw line to make up the difference.
 
Union will be back in action on Friday when the team makes the short trip across the river to take on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute beginning at 5:30 p.m.