Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College women's basketball team saw its season best six-game winning streak snap in a 55-51 loss to Vassar, in Liberty League action Tuesday night at the Williamson Sports Center.
The Thoroughbreds (12-9, 10-4 Liberty League) fall to a three-way tie with Vassar and Ithaca in the league standings. Vassar (15-6, 10-4 Liberty League) has won seven of the last eight games and have earned the season sweep.
The Brewers scored nearly half its points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Thoroughbreds 24-18. Vassar also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, controlling the rebound game by a 31-20 margin.
"Vassar is the team we thought they were – tough, smart, and offensively creative," said head coach
Darren Bennett. "They were able to sneak some players behind our zone and get easy buckets. They shot 23 percent from the 3-point line and we got to the free throw line, so we were successful there, but all game, we really struggled to get to the rim, giving up crucial points on that end. Vassar was good on the offensive glass, making us play extra possessions, and that can really wear you out. There were lots of positives to take from this game and we've got to move on and get ready for the weekend. It's the Big Green Scream and Senior Weekend, so we are excited for what lies ahead of us."
Kelly Donnelly led all scorers with 23 points, including 21 in the second half. She added 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.
Veronica Moceri added 15 points and four rebounds.
Caite Opfer chipped in five points and six rebounds.
Sophie Nick paced Vassar with a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double. Ariella Rosenthal added 13 points.
It was a cold shooting start for both teams, with Skidmore starting 0-for-5 from the field and Vassar making just one of its first five shots. The game settled from there, as the Thoroughbreds climbed to a four-point, 12-8 lead late. Vassar's Jackie Cenan converted on a layup with 55 seconds left of the opening quarter, with Skidmore taking a two-point lead into the second.
The Brewers flipped the script in the second quarter, leading by as many as six points. Donnelly converted on a last-minute jumper to reduce the deficit to four, with Skidmore heading into the locker room with a 22-18 halftime deficit.
The second half saw Vassar take its largest lead of the game with eight, before Skidmore climbed back with a 12-2 run in 5:03 to end the quarter with its first lead of the half at 33-31. The lead seesawed a bit in the fourth quarter, before Vassar pulled ahead with an 11-4 run to take an eight-point, 46-38 lead.
The Thoroughbreds made one final push at the deficit, with Donnelly scoring five consecutive points to put Skidmore within striking range, 48-46 with one minute to go in regulation. With overtime looming, Samarah Cook hit a crucial 3-pointer on Vassar's next possession to give the Brewers a five-point, 51-46 lead. After both teams traded baskets, Donnelly hit a desperation trey, dropping the deficit back to two, at 53-51. Nick made a pair of free throws on the other end to preserve the Brewer victory.
Skidmore held Vassar to 37.9 percent shooting from the field in the game and just eight free throw attempts, despite the loss. The Thoroughbreds had trouble offensively, shooting 32.8 percent from the field.
The Thoroughbreds will look to begin a new streak on Friday, when William Smith comes to town for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
