SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College women's basketball team welcomes its Capital Region foes this weekend, with the Thoroughbreds hosting Union and RPI this Friday and Saturday at the Williamson Sports Center.
Skidmore will begin the weekend against Union on Friday at 5 p.m., then end the weekend with RPI on Saturday at 2 p.m.
For the third consecutive weekend, Skidmore (5-12, 4-6 Liberty League) earned a split in Liberty League action, defeating Bard by a 74-48 score last Friday, before falling to Ithaca the next day. The Thoroughbreds currently sit in sixth place in the league standings with eight games to go. Against Bard, Skidmore had its highest point total of the season, as well as setting season-best marks in 3-point field goals (eight), 3-point field goal percentage (.471), assists (18), opponent rebounds (32), and opponent field goals made (15). Individually,
Lilly Berg led the Thoroughbreds with a career-high 17 points and nine rebounds, leading to a
spot on the Liberty League Honor Roll after averaging 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocked shots per game, while shooting an impressive 70.3 percent (19-for-27) from the field.
Jessica Centore leads the team in scoring at 8.9 points per game, with
Haley English right behind at 8.2 points.
Sydney Tsutsui is the team's leading shooter from beyond the arc (.319) and she's third in scoring at 7.5 points.
Taylor Ong averages 7.5 points and a team-leading 7.8 rebounds per game. Over the last six games Ong has been a steady presence on the boards, averaging 11 rebounds per game.
Union (10-4, 5-3 Liberty League) sits in fourth place in the league standings after what continues to be a turnaround season. The Dutchwomen already have more wins this season than all of last season (seven). Union saw a four-game winning streak end in its last game, falling to league-leading Vassar last Friday.
Nicole Conley is among the league leaders in scoring (16.4 ppg) and rebounds (9.2). Elly Vaughan is second on the team in both scoring (7.7 ppg) and rebounds (6.5). Amber Raisner and Darby Leid share the team lead in assists (2.3 apg). Union defeated Skidmore in its last meeting on Jan. 5 by a 60-47 score.
One of the teams battling with Skidmore for a playoff spot is RPI (8-7, 3-5 Liberty League). The Engineers fell to Ithaca in its last game on Jan. 18.
RPI is led by the scoring trio of Elizabeth Eckhardt (13.8 ppg), LaKissa Martin (12.9 ppg), and Ines Ortea (12.1 ppg). Martin and Ortea each lead the team with 7.1 rebounds per game. Sam O'Keefe leads the team in assists (3.5 apg).
Skidmore has an advantage coming into this game, having defeated the Engineers by a 55-47 score in Troy on Jan. 4. Centore, Ong, and English each scored in double figures to lead the team to victory.
