ITHACA, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team got a pair of double-doubles from forwards Gabrielle Eure and Chloe Hayter in its season opener, but No. 22 Ithaca College topped the Herons 74-63 in the Ben Light Gymnasium this afternoon.
 
Eure erupted for a career-high 22 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to pace William Smith. Hayter chipped in 14 points and 11 boards. Sophomore guard Melanie Patterson was a single rebound shy of giving the Herons a third double-double, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds and a team-high four assists.
 
The Bombers put four players in double figures, led by Ali Ricchiuti's 22 points and game-high five steals. Ally Mnich, Keri Steel and Francesca Cotrupe chipped in 16, 11, and 10 points, respectively.
 
William Smith dominated the glass, holding a 52-29 rebounding advantage, but Ithaca was plus 20 in turnover margin. The Herons outshot the Bombers from the floor (.401-.384), from behind the arc (.455-.391), and at the line (.700-.643), but couldn't overcome their 28 turnovers.
 
Ithaca led by as many as 10 in the first half and carried a 36-31 lead into halftime. The Herons opened the second half on a 9-2 run, capped off by a 3-pointer from Patterson to take a 40-38 lead less than three minutes in. The Bombers responded with an 18-2 surge that put them in firm control of the contest. William Smith scored the game's next five points to trim Ithaca's lead to nine, but the Bombers responded to the threat with the game's next six points and never let their advantage dip below 11 the rest of the game.
 
The Herons (0-1) will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 18, when they travel to the University of Rochester. Tipoff at the Palestra is scheduled for 7 p.m.