ITHACA, N.Y.—Ithaca College used an intense defensive effort to power its offense in a 72-52 Liberty League win over William Smith College this afternoon. The Bombers were led by Cassidy O'Malley's game-high 26 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
 
The Herons got twin 14-point efforts from senior Kendra Quinn-Moultrie and junior Mia Morrison. Morrison also grabbed a team-high eight boards. Junior Olivia Hughes contributed 10 points.
 
O'Malley was 10-of-20 shooting and was joined in double digits by Julie Yacovoni, who finished with 11 points. Ithaca (9-2, 4-0) forced 26 Heron turnovers and made just 13 of their own.
 
The first quarter was evenly matched with neither side leading by more than four points. Ithaca carried a 17-15 lead into the second quarter thanks to a pair of made free throws with 17 seconds remaining by Annie Giannone.
 
The Bombers, who among the teams receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com poll, took control of the contest with 10 straight points in the second quarter, turning a 1-point Heron lead into a nine-point advantage. Cassidy O'Malley led Ithaca's charge with four points. William Smith did itself no favors, turning the ball over seven times during the four-minute stretch.
 
Ithaca used its high-pressure, trapping defense to create 16 first half turnovers by the Herons while the Bombers committed just six miscues. O'Malley led all scorers with 12 points at the break. Morrison and Dimitrakopoulou shared team-high honors with eight points each.
 
Ithaca maintained a double digit lead throughout the second half.
 
The Herons (6-5, 0-4) will be back in action at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Rensselaer (6-5, 2-2).