Liberty League Semifinals
No. 1 Skidmore (17-8, 13-3 Liberty) vs. Clarkson (15-10, 10-6 Liberty)
Game Details: Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 6 p.m.
Location: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Williamson Sports Center
Preview Video: Liberty League Preview
Game Links: Stats | Video
Skidmore: Roster | Stats
Clarkson: Roster | Stats
 
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For the second time in 72 hours, the Skidmore College women's basketball team will host seeded Clarkson at the Williamson Sports Center. This time, a spot in the Liberty League Championship game is at stake, as the top-seeded Thoroughbreds host the fourth seeded Golden Knights on Wednesday in the league semifinals. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.
 
Skidmore and Clarkson meet for just the second time in postseason history. The Thoroughbreds defeated the Golden Knights in the only meeting between the two teams, a 65-57 victory in the 2015 Liberty League Semifinals. This is a matchup of the last two Liberty League Tournament winners; Clarkson is the defending league champions, while Skidmore last won it all in 2015. Skidmore has won both games in the season series, winning 60-46 in Potsdam on Jan. 10 and 67-57 in Saratoga Springs in the season finale on Sunday.
 
The Thoroughbreds (17-8, 13-3 Liberty) fly into the postseason after winning the regular season title for just the second time in school history. Skidmore defeated Skidmore is looking for its second title in three seasons. The Thoroughbreds have won games due to its stifling defense and timely shooting. Skidmore leads the league in field goal defense (.336) from the field, and is second in scoring defense (54.8 ppg) and 3-point defense (.268). The Thoroughbreds have improved offensively, especially in the second half of games. Skidmore has outscored its opponents after halftime in five of the last six games, winning the halves by an average of 15.6 points.
 
Kelly Donnelly leads the Thoroughbreds and the Liberty League in scoring (20.6), rebounds (10.9), and steals (2.7). Veronica Moceri is second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.6 points per game, and has upped her scoring in league play, averaging 11.3 points in 16 games. Migle Vilunaite is third on the team with 6.7 points per game and second on the team rebounding with 5.3 caroms per game.
 
Defending Liberty League Tournament Champion Clarkson (15-10, 10-6 Liberty) come into the postseason as one of the hotter teams, winning seven of the last nine games down the stretch to reach the playoffs. The Golden Knights are aggressive at the point of attack defensively, leading the conference with 10.48 steals per game. They've presented a problem in this area for the Thoroughbreds, forcing Skidmore to an impressive 52 turnovers in both games combined.
 
Devin Sorell is second to Donnelly in the league in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game. Madison Shea is second on the Golden Knights in scoring (10.4) and is tied for the league lead in steals (2.7). Stephanie Grobe is right behind Shea in scoring (10.2). Alyssia Marshal is a solid defender; she leads the team in rebounds (7.6) and is third in the Liberty League in steals (2.4).
 
In the second semifinal, No. 3 RIT is headed to No. 2 William Smith in Geneva, N.Y. at 7 p.m. The winner of both games will play in the Liberty League Championship game on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the highest remaining seed.