SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College women's basketball team blew open a tight game with a 25-8 fourth quarter on the way to a 60-49 Liberty League win over Union College Saturday afternoon at the Williamson Center.
The Thoroughbreds remain unbeaten in Liberty League play with a 4-0 league and 6-5 overall record. The Dutchwomen are 4-6 and 1-3.
Kelly Donnelly led Skidmore with her 50
th straight game in double figures. The two-time All-American scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds for her 36
th career double/double. She also had two steals, two blocks and an assist.
Veronica Moceri added 10 points, while
Taylor Ong had nine points, eight rebounds and two assists off the bench.
Jenni Barra led Union with 18 points.
It was a game of runs right from the start.
Skidmore forced several early turnovers and held Union to 1-7 shooting over the first seven minutes to open a 10-4 lead. The Dutchwomen battled back with a 10-0 run that bridged from the end of the first quarter into the second.
Down 14-10, the Thoroughbreds went on a run of their own, outscoring the visitors 14-2 for a solid 24-16 lead with 2:47 left in the second. The half ended with Skidmore up 29-23.
Kelly Donnelly had 10 points, five rebounds and two steals in the half. The Thoroughbreds enjoyed a huge 30-13 rebound advantage.
It was Union's turn to streak in the third quarter. The Dutchwomen opened the quarter with a 15-0 win and 38-29 lead. The Thoroughbreds cut the deficit to six, 41-35 at the end of the third.
Skidmore owned the fourth quarter, chipping away Union's lead until
Haley English drained a clutch three to tie it 41-41 with 7:29 to play. A pair of missed Dutchwomen free throws and Donnelly hit a short jumper to put the Thoroughbreds back in front for good 43-41. Skidmore kept at it rolling the rest of the way for the 60-49 win
"Union did a tremendous job of making us really work on both ends of the floor today," said Skidmore coach
Darren Bennett. "Their record is not indicative of their talent or work ethic. Their zone made us really have to dig to generate points and their man to man defense was no lighter on our offensive output. Our team effort on the offensive boards gave us a lot of extra opportunities, and our sharing of the ball, 19 assists on 25 baskets is great output in team play. Overall we found a way to win and when you play back to back games, especially in conference play, you have to find ways to win and today we did that with strong defense, especially in the last period and offensive rebounding.
"Overall our efforts are there and its showing, we just have to put it together for 40 minutes and we will be in good shape."
The Thoroughbreds hit the road for their next seven games, starting with a Jan. 8 game at Vassar College.
