SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was a defensive effort by both teams in the season opener, but the Skidmore College women's basketball team fell short in overtime to Muhlenberg by a 49-46 score, in non-conference action at the Williamson Sports Center Saturday afternoon.
 
It was the season opener for both teams.
 
Haley English led the Thoroughbreds with 11 points and four assists, while Sydney Tsutsui was solid in her first game in nearly two years, tallying 10 points and five rebounds in her Skidmore debut. Taylor Ong finished with a career-high 14 rebounds, adding a pair of blocked shots. Lilly Berg finished with nine points, six rebounds, and a blocked shot, playing a career-high 30 minutes.
 
Carley Hamilton led the Mules with 15 points on 50 percent shooting (7-for-14) from the field, adding six rebounds. Muhlenberg shot 37.7 percent (20-for-56) from the field in the victory.
 
Skidmore jumped out of the gates fast, beginning with a 7-2 run, stretching the lead to 10 after the made free throw by Toyin Koleoso with 41 seconds left. The Mules would cut into the deficit in the second quarter, but the Thoroughbreds would take a 25-20 lead into halftime.
 
Muhlenberg flipped the script in the second half, pressuring the Skidmore offense with zone defense. The Mules held Skidmore without a point in the first 6:48 of the quarter and would take a 31-25 lead after a 11-0 run. Skidmore would break the drought on the next posession with a nice scoop layup by Tsutsui and would end the quarter trailing by a 35-31 score.
 
Skidmore would tie the game after beginning the fourth with consecutive Berg jumpers, before the two teams went back and forth trading the lead. Skidmore had a chance to win the game late in regulation, but last second jumpers by English and Tsutsui would just miss as the teams went to overtime. In the extra session, Skidmore would score the first three points to take a 46-43 lead, but Muhlenberg ended the game tallying the final six points.
 
Skidmore will begin a long road stretch, beginning with a Tuesday trip to Oneonta on Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.