Potsdam, NY – With four 3-pointers in a six-minute stretch, the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team turned an 11-point deficit into a lead and the Golden Knights never looked back in a 69-57 Liberty League victory over William Smith Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Knights evened their record at 8-8 overall and moved to 3-5 in conference games, while William Smith dropped its second of the weekend to fall to 7-3 in the Liberty League and 14-5 overall.

Both teams had plenty of second-chance opportunities with nine offensive rebounds each, but it was William Smith that took larger advantage of their boards, converting 10 points on put backs. Clarkson was able to stay in the contest by turning the ball over just three times in 30 possessions. The Knights jumped out to a 9-2 lead within 3:34 of the tip by scoring on their first three possessions of the game, but William Smith steadily chipped in to the deficit and eventually tied the score up at 15-15 before gaining its first lead at 11:59. The Herons built their lead to as many as seven points on three occasions before settling for a five-point lead at the half.

Cara Manfredi (Glastonbury, CT) and Stephanie Grobe (Whiter River Junction, VT) each scored eight points for Clarkson in the first half, while Jacqueline Murphy was flawless in three shots to score eight points while adding in six boards.

In the second half, William Smith jumped out to an 11-point edge (44-33) with just six minutes expired from the clock, but then Herons then went into a funk offensively and Clarkson slowly took advantage. Cara Manfredi hit three 3-pointers in a three-minute stretch to tie the score up at 46-46 and then the Knights took the lead on an Alyssia Marsal (Clifton Park, NY) 3-pointer from the top of the key at 7:52. Though the game would be briefly tied a minute later, Clarkson was able to get to the basket and stretch its advantage with a fine effort from the free throw line, making 14 from the charity stripe in the final minutes to clinch the win.

William Smith made just one 3-pointer in the second half in 13 attempts, and shot only 29.4% in the second half overall. Clarkson shot 50% from beyond the 3-point arc and was 18-for-25 from the free throw line in the second half.

Manfredi scored 24 points and added in seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals for Clarkson. Ashley Loggins (Albany, NY) tossed in 16 points and Grobe finished with 15 points. William Smith's scoring was much more spread with Sasha Borenstein leading the way with 10 points. Chloe Hayter nearly had a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds and Jacqueline Murphy finished with one less in each category with eight points and eight boards.