SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- Kelly Donnelly scored 14 points with seven rebounds to lead Skidmore College to a 69-67 comeback win over Liberty League leader Union College in a women's basketball game Friday night at the Williamson Center.  
 
The Thoroughbreds evened their league record to 4-4 and are now 9-7 overall, while the Dutchwomen fell to 6-2 in the league and 11-4 overall.
 
Amber Holgate scored 12 points with Meghan Flanagan adding 11 and Caite Opfer scoring 10 with two blocks. Skidmore had a slim 39-38 rebounding advantage and shot 42%.
 
Union was led by Natalie Leone's 18 points and 15 from Cailin Schmeer. Sophie Borg scored 13 while Erin Lyons had 10 for Union, which shot 44%.
 
Skidmore led 23-17 after the first period but a strong second quarter gave Union a 37-36 lead into the half. Union led 55-50 entering the fourth quarter.
 
With just 1:53 left in regulation, Lyons made a layup for an eight point Union advantage, 65-57. That would be the last field goal for the Dutchwomen.
 
The Thoroughbreds got to within three, 65-63 on a field goal and two free throws by Opfer and layup by Holgate.  Leone hit a pair of three throws with 47.7 left to move the lead to four 67-63. 
 
Donnelly put back an offensive rebound with 32.8 to cut it back to 67-65. She then stole the inbounds pass and got the ball out to Holgate, who calmly drilled a three-pointer to put the Thoroughbreds on top 68-67.  Union had a couple of looks in the final seconds, but Skidmore got one more point on Holgate free throw and held on for the 69-67 win.
 
Skidmore didn't get to the line until Opfer's attempt with 1:18 to play. The Thoroughbreds were 3-5 for the game. Union shot 12-22 (.545) for the game.

COACH BENNETT:
Instant classic. Times have changed for our women's basketball program over the decade and some games and teams have turned into true rivalries and rivals because there isn't really a rivalry until two teams can really compete against each other and tonight played testament to that. Union is a gritty, tough, smart and well coached team. They sit atop the conference and they come to play all the time and tonight they came to play. We just had enough big shots and big rebounds to hold them back for a memorable W.

I'm really proud of our team. They were able to make a lot of adjustments and hang in there. We had a lot of people coming in and out of the game and we maintained our focus and upped the level of play with each move. It was awesome to watch and even better to be a part of.

The heart of our team is our depth and that showed tonight. We played 11 almost 12 players double digit minutes. We are getting better at understand the philosophy of wearing teams down over time with out presses and having fresh legs to make longer runs as the game goes on. We must improve dramatically at rebounding and taking care of the ball. We work to defend and turn the other team over and we give the ball right back. We defend great and then give up multiple offensive rebounds and the foul or the other team scores. That's deflating and it wears on you. If we fix that we can make a strong run.

Tomorrow it's back to the grind versus one of the best teams in the conference. Their record doesn't show it but they are good, very good. We are hoping to put together strong back to back games heading back into the academic state of mind with classes beginning on Monday.
 
Skidmore is home again Saturday at 2 p.m. against Rensselaer. Union will host St. Lawrence at 2 p.m.