ITHACA, N.Y. - No. 22 Ithaca posted a 75-63 victory over the Catholic University women's basketball team in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship at Ben Light Gymnasium Friday.

The Cardinals (20-6) were led by junior Rachel Bussanich who had 18 points, five rebounds and two steals off the bench. She scored 10 of her 18 points from the free throw line where she was 10-of-12.

Senior Luca Mamula totaled 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds while senior Amanda Johnson added 10 points and four rebounds.

Catholic rallied from a nine-point first quarter deficit to take its first lead, 33-32, following a three-pointer by junior Erin Doherty with 1:54 remaining in the second. However, a three-pointer by Natalie Smith with three seconds left gave the Bombers the momentum and a 37-35 lead at halftime.

Ithaca (25-3) outscored the Cardinals 20-7 in a decisive third quarter, limiting them to just 3-of-22 shooting while totaling five of its eight blocks.

Led by a three-pointer by Johnson and two free throws from Mamula, Catholic scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to 10, but that would be as close as it would get.

The Bombers were led by Grace Cannon who totaled 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, five blocks and three steals. Cara Volpe added 11 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals as Ithaca extended its win streak to 20 and improved to 15-1 at home this season.

The Cardinals, who have appeared in five of the last 10 NCAA tournaments, finished the season with at least 20 wins for the sixth time in the last 10 full seasons.