Potsdam, NY - Forcing 18 turnovers in the second half, the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team made 11 steals in the final 20 minutes in a concerted defensive effort to take a 66-53 win against Bard College Friday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights moved to 9-14 overall and 4-11 in the Liberty League, while Bard dropped to 1-23 overall and 0-15 in conference games. Clarkson will close out the regular season on Saturday when it faces Vassar College at 2:00 pm.

Clarkson's defensive prowess wasn't limited to the second half, as the Golden Knights held Bard scoreless for the first nine minutes of the game, making the Raptors shoot 0-for-14 from the field. However, Bard responded well, finishing the half by making nine of the final 16 attempts from the field. That solid shooting display, coupled with Clarkson's rough effort, made a double-digit advantage evaporate into only a two-point lead by intermission.

A banked 3-pointer from the corner by Bianka Bell opened the second half for Bard, and the Raptors and Clarkson fought back and forth for the next 13 minutes as neither team enjoyed more than a four point advantage. With 6:37 remaining, Clarkson's Isabella Esposito (Essex, VT) was fouled and buried a pair of free throws, sparking a 10-0 run in the next few minutes to give the Knights a 12-point advantage. Another 3-pointer from the Raptors brought the score back to single digits, but the Knights pushed back ahead and wouldn't allow Bard back into the game, ending with a 13-point margin of victory.

Sophomore Ashley Loggins (Albany, NY) shot 7-for-14 from the field for a team-high 19 points, and added in eight rebounds. Freshman Stephanie Grobe (White River Junction, VT) and Cara Manfredi (Glastonbury, CT) chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Brooke Butkovsky (Monroe, CT) had a solid all-around game with seven rebounds, five steals, and a pair of blocks for the Knights.

Tytravia Riley came off the bench to score 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds in 22 minutes. Bell made four 3-pointers among her 13 points and came within a rebound of a double-double.