Rams roll on to IIAC semifinals

Cornell's women's basketball team played as a confident No. 6 seed Tuesday night and secured the program's first postseason win since 2000 with a 79-64 pasting of third-seeded Dubuque in the first round of the Iowa Conference Tournament at Stoltz Sports Center.

The Rams (10-14) led by as many as 19 points in the first half and sank 25-of-28 free throws after intermission to avenge a 59-53 loss to Dubuque (15-11) just six days ago on the same court.

Cornell advances to play No. 2 seed and defending IIAC Tournament champion Coe (18-7) in a semifinal matchup at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at Eby Fieldhouse in Cedar Rapids. The Kohawks beat the Rams twice in the regular season, holding on 63-62 in Mount Vernon and rolling 76-57 in Cedar Rapids.

Top-seeded Simpson (20-5) hosts No. 4 seed Wartburg (18-8) in Thursday's other semifinal. Wartburg moved on with a 59-53 overtime win over Loras. The IIAC championship game is set for Saturday, Feb. 25 at the highest remaining seed.

The Rams also reached the IIAC semifinals in 2000, dropping a 72-62 decision at Simpson. Cornell is seeking its first trip to the IIAC title game in its 15th and final season as a conference member.

Cornell's Rikki Mulloy and Camille Marie-Lidd fueled a balanced offensive attack with 21 points apiece against a streaking Spartan squad (15-11) that had won 10 of 12 games entering the postseason. Freshman center Taylor Dicus enjoyed an impressive tournament debut with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. It was her fourth double-double of the season.

The Rams were firing on all cylinders early, building a 36-17 advantage with 3:38 to go in the opening period. Cornell shot 55.6 percent in the first half and took a 38-25 lead into the break. The Rams established the inside game with Marie-Lidd and Dicus combining for 25 points and nine rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

Cornell maintained its double-digit lead throughout the second half. The Rams broke it open with a 7-0 run to stretch the margin to 62-45 with 5:45 remaining. Caitlin Bisinger hit a jumper, Mulloy made two free throws and Chelsea Harris buried a 3-pointer as the Rams were on their way.

Cornell netted its highest scoring output against an IIAC foe since hanging 82 points on Central in the 2009 season finale. The Rams also posted a near-record performance from the foul line, connecting on 29-of-32 free throws (90.6 percent) for the game. The 29 made free throws were the fifth-most in school history.

Marie-Lidd had a stellar shooting night, going 6-of-9 from the field and 6-of-6 from the foul. The junior post went 3-of-3 from 3-point range, this without having attempted a 3-pointer the entire season.

Mulloy hit a pair of 3-pointers and shot 9-of-11 from the foul line. Bisinger chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Kathryn Schilling finished with seven points and four boards.

The Rams held a 45-31 advantage in rebounds and limited the hosts to 35.4 percent shooting.