SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A game-winning block by forward Migle Vilunaite propelled the Skidmore College women's basketball team to a narrow 68-66 victory over Vassar on Friday afternoon at the Williamson Sports Center. It was the Liberty League opener for both teams.
 
The Thoroughbreds snap their two-game losing skid, improving to 4-5 overall, while Vassar falls to 3-7 overall.
 
After guard Haley English split a pair of free throws to give the Thoroughbreds the two-point lead, the Brewers had a chance to tie. Vassar guard Ariella Rosenthal pulled up for the jumper on the wing, but Vilunaite tipped the shot away as the buzzer sounded and the team celebrated.
 
Vilunaite finished with six points, adding four rebounds and a steal to go along with the blocked shot. Kelly Donnelly was one point off her career-best mark, scoring a season-best 32 points on an efficient 10-for-16 shooting from the field, adding 13 rebounds. English was the other double-digit scorer with 12 points, adding five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
 
Rosenthal led Vassar with 19 points, but the Skidmore defense made her work, as she finished 8-for-22 from the field. Forward Sophie Nick tallied a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while guard Maeve Sussman added nine points.
 
The Thoroughbreds came out hot offensively, making three of their first five shots to jump out to a 7-0 lead. Vassar would respond, eventually tying the game at 19 with seven seconds to go in the period. The Brewers got a steal on the next possession, getting a basket by guard Maddie Leong to give Vassar a 21-19 edge after one.
 
Skidmore pulled ahead in the second period, stretching the advantage to as much as nine, at 37-28 on a Donnelly jumper. In the final seconds of the half, Sussman drilled a 3-pointer for Vassar, as Skidmore led 39-33 at the break.
 
Both teams traded leads as the game moved through the second half. Vassar briefly took control, taking a 61-56 lead on a Rosenthal jumper with 4:10 to go in regulation. The Thoroughbreds then went on a late 9-1 spurt, taking the 65-62 lead on a big 3-pointer from guard Ari Fustini. After Vassar knotted the game again at 66, Donnelly and English gave Skidmore the two-point lead as they both split a pair of free throws, leading to the Vilunaite heroics on the defensive end.
 
The Thoroughbreds shot 39.3 percent (24-of-61) from the field, forcing 16 Vassar turnovers. Vassar outrebounded Skidmore by a slim 45-43 margin.
 
The Thoroughbreds will next host RIT to end the 2016 calendar year on Saturday at 2 p.m.