Thoroughbreds begin league play this weekend

Skidmore (3-5) vs. Vassar (3-6)
Game Details: Friday, Dec. 30 | 2:00 p.m.
Location: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Williamson Sports Center
Game Links: Live Stats | Video
Skidmore: Roster | Stats
Vassar: Roster | Stats

Skidmore (3-5) vs. RIT (7-0)
Game Details: Saturday, Dec. 31 | 2:00 p.m.
Location: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Williamson Sports Center
Game Links: Live Stats | Video
Skidmore: Roster | Stats
RIT: Roster | Stats

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Liberty League play begins for the Skidmore College women's basketball team as it hosts Vassar and RIT this weekend. The Thoroughbreds will take on Vassar on Friday at 2 p.m., and will finish the weekend and the 2016 calendar year with a New Year's Eve matchup against RIT, also at 2 p.m.

Skidmore comes into this weekend matchup with a 3-5 record, last taking on Middlebury on Dec. 10. Guards Kelly Donnelly (12 points) and Ari Fustini (11 points) led the way offensively for Skidmore in the narrow 52-47 loss on the road.

Donnelly leads the league in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per contest, second in rebounding at 9.6 caroms per game, and is third in both field goal percentage (45.6 percent) and steals per game (2.8). Forward Migle Vilunaite is averaging 7.9 points and 7.4 rebounds as the team's top threat inside, while leading the team in blocked shots (5). As a team the Thoroughbreds are the stingiest defense in the conference, allowing a league-best 33.8 percent from the field.

Vassar comes into the matchup with a 3-6 record, after dropping consecutive games last week in San Juan, Puerto Rico, falling to Messiah 56-50 on Dec. 18 and Depauw 70-59 on Dec. 21. The Brewers are tops in the league in 3-point defense, forcing teams to just 17.1 percent shooting for the entire season. They are also second in defensive rebounding (28.6) and assists (15.6) per game. Guard Ariella Rosenthal is third in the league with 15.3 points per game, shooting 42 percent from the field. Forward Sophie Nick leads the conference with an 88 percent free throw percentage, missing only three free throws (22-for-25) all season.

RIT is the league's last undefeated team, coming into the weekend with a 7-0 record. The Tigers will head to Rensselaer on Friday before the Saturday matchup. The last time they played was on Dec. 6, when they went on the road to defeat Buffalo State 68-52. The Tigers lead the league in a number of categories including scoring offense (74.3 points per game), field goal percentage (43.7 percent), and rebounding per game (41.6). RIT has two of the league's top four scorers in forward Tara Lynch (18.4 points) and guard Jessica Glaz (15.0).

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Players Mentioned

#5 Kelly Donnelly: G; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#5 Kelly Donnelly
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

Players Mentioned

#5 Kelly Donnelly

Players Mentioned

#5 Kelly Donnelly