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Knights fall short in women's basketball playoff game at Skidmore, 65-47

Posted 2/26/15

Saratoga Springs, NY - A 10-4 run in the final three-plus minutes turned out to be the difference in Wednesday night's Liberty League Semifinals, as the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team …

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Knights fall short in women's basketball playoff game at Skidmore, 65-47

Posted

Saratoga Springs, NY - A 10-4 run in the final three-plus minutes turned out to be the difference in Wednesday night's Liberty League Semifinals, as the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team dropped a tough 65-57 decision against Skidmore College in the opening round of the conference tournament.

The Golden Knights saw their season come to an end with a record of 18-8 overall, the most victories in a season for Clarkson since 1989-90 and the fourth most in the program's 40-year history. Skidmore improved to 16-10 and will advance to the championship game.

Wednesday's game could not have started out much worse for the Knights as they trailed 13-2 through the first five minutes of the contest and had only six points through the first 10 minutes of the game. Despite the slow start, Clarkson rallied several times and pulled to within three (22-19) on a Devin Sorell lay up with just 1:30 to go in the half. The Knights settled for a four-point deficit at the break (25-21), a rather impressive feat considering they shot just 8-for-37 from the floor and 1-for-11 from beyond the 3-point lin in the opening 20 minutes. However, the Thoroughbreds weren't much better at 10-for-29 and 1-for-6, allowing Clarkson to keep it close. While Skidmore held a 29-21 edge on the glass, the Knights committed only six turnovers to Skidmore's 11.

In the second half, the Knights would leave the first period's woes behind them, pulling to within two twice in the first 10 minutes, including a 40-38 deficit after a Stephanie Grobe jumper. Clarkson rallied for its first lead of the game when Devin Sorell made a pair of free throws to get the Knights within one, and Alyssia Marsal buried a jumper for a 49-48 edge with 6:45 to go. Unfortunately for Clarkson, Skidmore countered with a 7-0 run to regain the lead. Another Sorell lay up at 3:40 pulled the Knights back to within two (55-53), but over the next two minutes Skidmore used another 7-0 run to nearly put the game out of reach. From that point, Clarkson was unable to put together enough offense to rally back for a victory.

The Knights finished 22-for-75 from the field, going 14-for-38 in the second half, but Skidmore minimized Clarkson's second chances with a 60-41 rebounding advantage. Junior Ashley Loggins finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Marsal and Sorell each scored 10 points for the Knights. For Skidmore, Angela Botiba recorded a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass, and Kelly Donnelly also produced a double-double on 14 points and 10 boards. Molly McLaughlin added 18 points on 5-for-11 shooting from the field, including both of Skidmore's 3-point field goals.