SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College women's basketball team looks to return to the Liberty League tournament in the 2016-17 season.
 
Last season, the Thoroughbreds finished 14-11 overall and 8-8 in conference play, one game out of a berth in the Liberty League Tournament. This season, the league has noticed the Thoroughbreds, as they are picked to finish second in the league standings, according to the league polls. They have 48 total votes and three first place votes, sitting behind RIT.
 
Leading the way is junior guard Kelly Donnelly. Last year she exploded for the Thoroughbreds earning WBCA All-American honors, and was named as the Liberty League's Co-Player of the Year. In 25 games, Donnelly was fourth among NCAA Division III sophomores with 18.3 points per game, adding 10.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals, all while shooting 52.6 percent from the field.

Still not satisfied, Donnelly looks to add to her game this season, knowing that the opponent's scouting reports will look to stop her production.
 
"She [Donnelly] is one of the most talented players that I've seen at any level on both ends of the floor," said Skidmore College women's basketball head coach Darren Bennett. "She can score and rebound, and her passing is getting much better. She can handle the ball and play some point guard when we need. She's going to get double and triple teamed, but it will open up other players on our team to step up, and they certainly will have the ability to do so."
 
Depth is the name of the game in Saratoga Springs, and it starts with the two dynamic point guards that will run the Skidmore offense. Sophomore guards Maya Bell and Haley English will split time this season. Bell is a quick change-of-pace guard that will look to head the press defense. She shot 40 percent from the field and also added 1.6 rebounds per game last season. English came alive near the end of last season. She led all Thoroughbreds, and was eighth in the league in assists (3.0), and was sixth in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio. English was named to the Liberty League All-Rookie Team for her efforts.
 
"Last year we had two freshman guards [English and Bell], and they had to learn our style of play and our pace," said Bennett. "They both are going to be tremendous players. They can both score and they each bring something different to the table."

Completing the guard rotation are juniors Ari Fustini and Veronica Moceri as well as sophomore Kayla Mitchell and senior co-captain Meaghan Flanagan. Fustini, a co-captain, was second on the team, shooting 36.4 percent from beyond the arc last season. Moceri was second on the team in scoring, averaging 8.3 points per game despite starting in only four contests. Mitchell is a defender that can break out with big scoring games when needed.  Flanagan is a tall 5-11 guard that sank 16 treys last season, as well as cause matchup nightmares on both ends.
 
"We've got some real strong shooters, some kids that can also take it to the rim," said Bennett. "It's going to allow us to mix and match different lineups for different situations."

Sophomore Schuyler Alig and freshman Jessica Centore will look to compete for playing time this season. Both, like Flanagan, are tall guards that can create some mismatches on the offensive end. Centore is a physical player that can turn a turnover into a quick two points on the other end.
 
The Thoroughbreds come in as potentially one of the taller teams in the Liberty League, with eight players standing at 5-10 or taller. Leading the way is senior center and team captain Migle Vilunaite. Last season, Vilunaite averaged 6.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19 starts, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. Bennett expects big things from Vilunaite this season.
 
"Migle is primed for something special," said Bennett. "She is really getting a lot more comfortable around the paint, posting up strong and finishing around the rim, and she is also a really strong free throw shooter, so we look for big things from her this season."
 
Sophmore forwards Minja Ranisavljevic and Taylor Ong also look to improve entering their sophomore seasons. Two new players will provide additional depth down low for the Thoroughbreds. Freshman center Lilly Berg is an adept post player that can control the paint on defense, as well as score with both hands offensively. Junior forward Maja Stjepanovic is a transfer from Division II Valdosta State and is a strong wing player that can shoot from outside as well as attack the rim as a forward.
 
"We're going to have some depth inside," said Bennett. "Just because they have the height, they still have to play with a certain level of toughness, knowing our sets and situations, knowing how to make adjustments. If they can continue to progress, we will have a strong rotation of players which will wear teams down inside, allowing our perimeter game to open up and do some special things."
 
A difficult schedule awaits the Thoroughbreds as they enter the 2016-17 campaign. Skidmore begins at home, hosting the Skidmore Invitational on Friday and Saturday, opening up against Endicott before finishing with top-ranked Tufts. Visits by Ithaca and Sage, and trips to the Wesleyan Tournament and Williams College highlight the non-conference slate. The journey back to the top of a wide-open Liberty League begins on Dec. 30, as the Thoroughbreds begin the 16-game slate against Vassar.
 
"In this region, we feel like we want to get back to the top and win a championship," said Bennett. "Winning a championship is about supporting each other and being a great team, and having great teammates. If we do that, I think the results will take care of themselves."