GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith basketball team made a late run at Skidmore this evening, but the Thoroughbreds held on for 60-56 Liberty League victory in Bristol Gym tonight. Skidmore improves to 5-10 overall, 2-2 in the conference, while the Herons fall to 8-7, 2-2.

 

The Thoroughbreds jumped out to an early lead behind a 14-2 run. Senior guard Kelly Caufield (Masuk/Monroe, Conn.) scored six of her nine points during the surge. William Smith countered with an 18-3 run to build a 22-17 advantage. 
 

Skidmore scored the final four points of the half to trim its deficit to one, 22-21.

 

The Thoroughbreds seized the lead for good with the first 10 points of the second half, part of a 19-4 run that ballooned the vistors' lead to 14, 40-26. The Herons got within four on a layup by junior forward Erin Cunningham (Morris Knolls/Rockaway, N.J.) with 3:20 to go, but Skidmore pushed back with five straight points to take a 54-44 lead with 1:12 remaining. Cunningham finished with 13 points.

 

William Smith refused to go down without a fight, creeping within two, 58-56, on a three-pointer by first-year guard Jessie Tarantino (East Aurora/East Aurora, N.Y.) with seven ticks left. The Herons were forced to foul on the ensuing in-bound play and first-year guard Megan Gaugler (Amsterdam/Amsterdam, N.Y.) sealed the win with a pair of made free throws to finish with 12 points.

 

Sharlyn Harper (Holderness/New York, N.Y.) led Skidmore with 14 points. Senior forward Laura Michel (Christ The King/Middle Village, N.Y.) added seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Thoroughbreds.

 

Skidmore will visit Hamilton tomorrow at 2 p.m.

 

 

SKIDMORE (5-10, 2-2 LL)--Sharlyn Harper 5-11 4-8 14; Megan Gaugler 2-6 6-8 12; Kellye Caufield 3-5 3-6 9; Laura Michel 3-9 1-2 7; Amber Kinsey 2-3 3-3 7; Christine Kemp 2-4 0-2 4; Dana Leonard 2-4 0-0 4; Laurel Brown 1-3 0-2 3; Christina Gargiso 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-46 17-31 60.

 

WILLIAM SMITH (8-7, 2-2 LL)--Mollie Danahy 4-9 5-9 14; Erin Cunningham 5-14 2-2 13; Paige Myers 3-7 0-0 9; Latasha Coney 3-10 0-1 7; Ashlinn Barber 1-6 2-2 4; Kristen Kush 2-3 0-0 4; Jessie Tarantino 1-3 0-0 3; Carrie Stevens 1-1 0-0 2; Colleen Lukas 0-2 0-0 0; Ali Napier 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 20-57 9-16 56.

 

Halftime--William Smith 22-21. 3-point goals--Skidmore 3-15 (Gaugler 2-4; Brown 1-2; Michel 0-3; Leonard 0-2; Caufield 0-2; Harper 0-2), William Smith 7-19 (Myers 3-6; Cunningham 1-3; Coney 1-5; Danahy 1-3; Tarantino 1-1; Lukas 0-1). Fouled out--Skidmore-Michel, William Smith-Coney. Rebounds--Skidmore 39 (Michel 10), William Smith 32 (Lukas 7). Assists—Skidmore 11 (Harper 4), William Smith 13 (Coney 3). Total fouls--Skidmore 12, William Smith 20. Technical fouls--Skidmore-Michel, William Smith-None. A-150