SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team had four players hit double figures, but Skidmore College earned a 66-49 Liberty League victory tonight. The Thoroughbreds improved to 10-2, 2-0, while the Herons fall to 4-8, 0-2.
Mollie Danahy paced William Smith with 14 points and a game-high eight steals.
Ashlinn Barber and
Kristen Kush also made bids for double-doubles, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds apiece.
Julie Hooper chipped in 10 points for the Herons as well.
Skidmore's Sharlyn Harper led all scorers were 22 points, including four three-pointers, while Christina Gargiso contributed 13 points off the bench. Kelly Bischoff collected a game-high 11 rebounds, as Skidmore held a 43-38 advantage on the glass.
The Thoroughbreds scored the first five points of the game and never trailed. Skidmore stretched its lead to as many as 12 in the first half, before William Smith used a 13-2 run to rally to within a single point, 21-20. Unfortunately for the Herons, the Thoroughbreds ended the half on a 10-2 run, carrying a 31-22 lead into the intermission.
William Smith outscored Skidmore 7-3 to start the second half, whittling its deficit to just five on a traditional three-point play by Danahy, but the Thoroughbreds restored their double digit advantage with back-to-back threes by Harper. Skidmore kept its lead in double digits for the remainder of the contest.
The Thoroughbreds shot 41.4 percent from the floor, including 8-of-16 from behind the arc, while limiting the Herons to 32.8 percent shooting (4-of-11 from three-point range). Skidmore contributed to William Smith's shooting woes, blocking 11 shots, including a game-high three by Bischoff.
The Thoroughbreds also made more free throws (12-of-16) than William Smith attempted (5-of-11).
The Herons will look to get back in the win column at 2 p.m. on Jan. 16 when they visit Union (3-9, 1-1). Fans can follow the action online with
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