SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College women's basketball finished a perfect Liberty League weekend with a 67-57 win over Clarkson University Saturday afternoon at the Williamson Center.
 
Skidmore has won three straight to move to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in conference. Clarkson is 4-4 and 0-2.
 
Down 45-39 after three quarters, the Thoroughbreds dominated the Golden Knights in the fourth stanza 28-12 to turn the deficit into a 10-point win.
 
All-American Kelly Donnelly led the way with 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Donnelly has hit the double figure scoring mark in 44 straight games. Caite Opfer scored 13 points and pulled down nine boards, while Veronica Moceri added 10 points and four assists. Ari Fustini had eight points and a game-high seven assists.
 
Devin Sorell led Clarkson with 23 points. Madison Shea (15) and Molly Stewart (14) were also in double figures.
 
Neither team could muster any offense in an 8-8 first quarter. The Golden Knights used an 11-0 run early in the second quarter to grab their biggest lead of the game 21-10 with 4:54 to play. Taylor Ong tipped in an offensive rebound for the Thoroughbreds to cut the lead to nine, 31-22 at the half.
 
In the third quarter, every time Skidmore cut into the lead, Clarkson responded to maintain a 6-9 point lead. It was Ong again with a late three-pointer that cut it to 45-39 and gave the Thoroughbreds momentum to start the fourth quarter.
 
Skidmore scored the first six points of the fourth quarter on baskets by Donnelly, Opfer and Ong to tie it 45-45. Up 52-49, the Thoroughbreds broke it open with a 10-0 run open it up 62-49 with 2:20 left. Fustini and Moceri each hit three-pointers to key the run. Skidmore maintained control the final two minutes for the 67-57 final.
 
The Thoroughbreds hit an amazing 11 of 14 field goal attempts (78.6%) in the fourth quarter, while Clarkson went 4-15 (26.7%).  Skidmore had a 17-0 advantage in bench points.

 "We escaped a tough game and team today." said Skidmore coach Darren Bennett. "Clarkson is so gritty and tough. They have extremely talented guards and the rest of the team takes on their grit and will and they play so hard every possession. They beat us statistically in a lot of places where games are won and lost, offensive rebounds, free throws attempted, etc.

"Our inside game came up big with Caite Opfer, Kelly and Tay inside. We ended up getting a lot of high percentage shots and that made the difference. 89% of our points came off of assists, 23 out of 27 baskets that's amazing. We shared the ball better tonight and became more and more comfortable with passing the ball inside. That's something we've been working on and it finally paid off. It's something we have to continue improving on during the season and it will help us in becoming a complete team. 2-0 is a great start in conference play where every game is extremely important.

"I'm proud of our players fight and grit. Last night we had to hold on to a win and today we had to come from behind. Understanding how to win close games and how to close out games is a key cog to championship play and that's what are striving for."


The Thoroughbreds travel to Sage College in Albany on Dec. 5 for a 7 p.m. non-league game and then return home for an 8 p.m. game against Middlebury College on Dec. 8.