GENEVA, N.Y.—Ashlinn Barber recorded her sixth double-double of the season, but Skidmore left Bristol Gym with a 63-50 Liberty League women’s basketball victory over William Smith. Barber recorded a game-high 14 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
Kristen Kush also contributed 14 points for the Herons, and missed her own double-double by a single rebound.
Julie Hooper added nine points, while
Mollie Danahy recorded a game-high six steals, five points, and five assists before fouling out.
The Thoroughbreds (17-3, 9-1) got 10-point efforts from Dana Leonard and Christine Kemp, while Sharlyn Harper and Amber Kinsey each contributed nine points.
Short-staffed due to injuries and illness, the Herons (6-13, 2-7) managed a 43-42 rebounding edge and made five fewer turnovers, but could match Skidmore’s depth. The Thoroughbred bench outscored the home team 33-4. William Smith struggled to find its range, connecting on just 24.2 percent of its shots from the floor. Skidmore shot 39.6 percent, but built a 16-point halftime lead by knocking down 43.8 percent from the floor.
The Thoroughbreds, who clinched a spot in the Liberty League Tournament, wasted little time pulling away from the Herons. Leading 5-2 four minutes in, Skidmore used an 11-4 run to stretch their advantage to 10 with 11:29 left on the clock. The Thoroughbreds continued to steadily pull away down the stretch, taking a 38-22 lead into the locker room.
Kush led all scorers with 10 points at the break.
Skidmore extended its lead to as many as 20 in the second half, but the Herons refused to go away quietly. A 14-5 William Smith surge trimmed the deficit to just eight, 54-46, with 5:37 remaining. Unfortunately for the home team, the Thoroughbreds made their free throws down the stretch to make sure the Herons got no closer. Despite failing to convert a field goal in the final seven minutes of the game, Skidmore prevailed by making 9-of-11 from the line during that stretch.
William Smith is back in action on Feb. 9, when the Herons host Hamilton (12-7, 5-4). The Thoroughbreds will return home for a Feb. 12 contest against Rensselaer.