Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – On Friday night, the Skidmore College men's and women's basketball teams will open league play against Vassar at the Williamson Sports Center.  The women face off against the defending champion Brewers at 6 p.m., while the men begin defense of their 2011 title at 8 p.m.
 
Both teams are off to a 6-2 start and have put up impressive numbers early in the season.
 
On the women's side, they currently rank third in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 44.1 points per game and ninth in field goal % defense, holding opponents to 30.9% shooting.  Senior Megan Gaugler is among tops in the league in scoring with 16.4 points per game.  She also leads the team in rebounding and blocks, while ranking fourth nationally in three point % (51.0) and third nationally in three pointers made per game (3.6).
 
For the men, they rank ninth in Division III with 9.9 three pointers made per game.  Six players are currently averaging more than seven points per game, led by senior Brian Lowry with 14.0 points per contest.  Senior Gerard O'Shea is averaging 5.6 assists per game and is fifth nationally with a 4.09 assist to turnover ratio.
 
Both teams will host RIT on Saturday, with the women playing at 2 p.m. and the men tipping off at 4 p.m.