Skidmore-WNEC Box
Cortland-Misericordia Box
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Junior guard Sharlyn Harper (New York, N.Y.) led all scorers with 13 points to drive the Skidmore College women's basketball team to its first win of the season over Western New England College, 78-56, in the first game of the 31st Annual Skidmore Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament at the Sports and Recreation Center.
The win improves the Thoroughbreds to 1-1 on the season and puts them in the championship game to be played Sunday at 2 p.m. against SUNY Cortland State, a 75-54 winner over Misericordia. WNEC falls to 2-1 and will play in the consolation game at 12 p.m.
Skidmore led by just three at the half but came out on a tear in the beginning of the second stanza, starting on a 17-2 run in the first 5:27 of the half that was capped off by a three-pointer from senior Laura Michel (Middle Village, N.Y.).
The Thoroughbreds led the entire contest and were up by as much as 24 in the second half, while holding the Golden Bears to 27.6 percent shooting (16-58). A majority of Golden Bear points came from the charity stripe, as they hit 23 of 38 from the line.
Skidmore hit nine from behind-the arc and shot 45.2 percent from the field (28-62), while scoring 24 points off of 27 forced WNEC turnovers.
Seniors Michel and Kellye Caufield (Monroe, Conn.) contributed 10 points a piece, while junior Amber Kinsey (Troy, N.Y.) was one point shy of a double-double with 9 points and a game –high 13 rebounds.
Sophomore Taryn Belowsky (New Haven, Conn.) led the Golden Bears with 10 points and freshman Sarah Proper (Coxsackie, N.Y.) added nine points and 10 rebounds.
In the other semifinal, Cortland junior forward Jessica Laing (Bloomville, N.Y.) was unstoppable in the 21-point Red Dragon win. Laing had 19 points and 17 rebounds to lead Cortland to the championship game. She also contributed a steal, block, and an assist.
Ahead 36-34 at the half, The Red Dragons scored the first seven points of the second stanza to break the game open.
Also in double figures for Cortland were Maggie Byrne (Pearl River, N.Y.) with 13 points and Ali Canale (Oswego, N.Y.) and Tiffany McLaughlin (Wellsville, N.Y.) with 12 each. Canale also had nine rebounds. The Red Dragons dominated the boards with a 55-28 advantage.
Lace DeGraw (Tyler Hill, Pa.) led Misericordia with 13 points. Lindsey Sykes (Avalon, N.J.) scored 12 points and had seven rebounds and Christine Marks (Milford, Pa.) added 10 points off the bench.
