SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Senior guard Amber Holgate scored a layup with nine seconds remaining in regulation to give the Skidmore College women's basketball team a 53-50 win over Wellesley in the final game of the 39^th Skidmore Women's Basketball Invitational, Saturday afternoon at the Williamson Sports Center.
 
Kelly Donnelly knocked down a jumper with 40 seconds remaining to give the Thoroughbreds (1-1) a 51-48 lead, but Brenna Butler brought the Blue (0-2) back within one with a layup. On the ensuing Skidmore possession, Holgate drove to the basket and missed her first attempt, but managed to put back the rebound put back her own rebound, sealing the 53-50 win.
 
Donnelly led Skidmore with 18 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Holgate finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Veronica Moceri had a career-high 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting, going 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
 
Chelsi Scott posted a double-double for Wellesley with 15 points and 13 boards. Kayla Jang contributed 10 points and four rebounds and Brenna Butler produced 10 points and five boards off the bench.
 
The Blue had an 8-7 lead after the first, but Skidmore took control in the second quarter. Donnelly produced four points in a 7-0 Thoroughbreds run that put the home side in front 15-10. Ailis Hanley cut Wellesley's deficit to one with a 3-pointer, but Skidmore managed to pull away before the half with an 8-0 run, opening its biggest lead of the game heading into halftime at 26-19. Donnelly tallied six straight points in the run and freshman Kayla Mitchell knocked down a 3-pointer.
 
The Blue chipped away at the lead in the third quarter, using a 15-8 run to come back within one with 1:55 left in the period. Moceri drilled a 3-pointer to make it a four-point game and after a pair of Scott free throws, Donnelly converted on a jumper to make it 41-36 heading into the final frame.
 
The two teams traded baskets over the first five minutes of the quarter, but Wellesley finally managed to tie the game with 4:41 left on a Scott layup. Donnelly got a jump shot to fall with 40 seconds remaining to put the Thoroughbreds ahead 51-48 and after Butler made it 51-50 with a shot from the charity stripe, Holgate produced the game-winning layup.
 
Skidmore shot 16-for-60 (26.7%) from the field and 6-for-24 from 3-point range, while Wellesley was 18-for-51 (35.3%) from the field and 2-for-12 (16.7%) from beyond the arc.

"Our team played with a little more poise with the ball today in our win and it was good to come out with a home win against a very well-coached team," said Skidmore head coach Darren Bennett.

"Our veterans, Amber and Kelly, stepped up in big moments at the end of the game and Veronica hit two timely corner threes to help us maintain our lead late in the game.

"With the vast combination of players that we can use, it will take us some time to get things right and find the right combination of players, especially this early in the season.  

"The win is definitely a good boost going into a week where we have three tough games in five days."

 The Thoroughbreds return to the court at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17, hosting Hartwick.
 
NEW PALTZ 72, SAINT JOSEPH'S 44

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The SUNY New Paltz women's basketball team outscored Saint Joseph's College (ME) 59-28 over the final three quarters en route to a 72-44 win in the 39th Skidmore Women's Basketball Invitational, Saturday afternoon at the Williamson Sports Center.

The Hawks improve to 2-0, while the Monks go to 1-1.

Kit Small led New Paltz with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Sydney Pinn tallied 14 points and pulled down seven boards and Laura Stuart added 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Kelsi McNamarra had a team-high eight points to go along with four rebounds for Saint Joseph's. Morgan Cahill had six points, nine rebounds and five blocks and Hannah Marks added seven points.

Trailing 16-13 after the first quarter, the Hawks rallied in the second, outscoring the Monks 22-10 to take a 35-26 lead into the half.
New Paltz pulled away with 25 points in the third quarter while holding Saint Joseph's to just eight. The fourth quarter was closely contested, but the Monks could not fight their way back, as the Hawks cruised to the 72-44 win.

New Paltz shot 25-for-76 (32.9%) from the field and 4-for-27 from three, while Saint Joseph's was 14-for-63 from (22.2%) from the floor, going 6-for-20 (30.0%) from 3-point range. The Hawks owned a 66-39 edge in rebounds, including a 28-13 edge on the offensive glass.

39^TH SKIDMORE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
 
Kelly Donnelly – Skidmore
Sydney Pinn – New Paltz
Chelsi Scott, Wellesley
Morgan Cahill – St. Joseph's
Amber Holgate – Skidmore
 
Most Outstanding Player
Kit Small – New Paltz