Feb. 10: Senior captain
Kara McDuffee scored a game-high 25 points and had 16 rebounds for the St. Lawrence University women's basketball team on Tuesday evening against Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. However, the Thoroughbreds hit a big three to force overtime then opened the extra period on a 9-2 run en route to a 67-62 Liberty League win.
St. Lawrence saw its nine game win streak come to an end and is now 17-5 on the season and 12-2 in conference. Meanwhile, Skidmore improves to 14-7 (10-2) and was led by 15-point efforts from Kelly Donnelly, Angela Botiba and Amber Holate. The two teams, who are vying for the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Liberty League Tournament, will meet again in the regular season finale in Canton, NY on February 20.
McDuffee was 8-of-14 from the field and 8-for-9 at the free throw line, while rookie
Cara Waterson added 14 points for the Scarlet and Brown.
Ellie Gonyeau contributed six points on 3-for-5 shooting, but the Saints finished 23-for-76 from the floor (30%) including a 7-for-37 mark from behind the arc (19%). Skidmore, meanwhile, shot 43% (23-of-54) from the floor and earned the win despite 19 turnovers.
Neither team played its best in the first half, as both teams shot under 30% in the opening period. McDuffee and Waterson combined for 17 of their team's 24 points as St. Lawrence held a 24-20 cushion at intermission. The Saints would grow the lead to the largest of the game early in the second half at 27-20, only to see the Thoroughbreds respond with a huge 19-4 run to claim a 39-31 lead midway through the second half.
St. Lawrence chipped away at the lead and finally pulled even at 54-54 on a three pointer by
Kaelyn Kohlasch with 3:16 remaining. McDuffee would then give the Saints a 58-55 lead with a jumper with 1:50 left. However, Holgate knocked down a huge three on the ensuing possession, tying the score at 58-58. McDuffee had a look for the win at the buzzer, but her shot missed and sent the game to overtime.
The extra session belonged to the Thoroughbreds, as Skidmore outscored St. Lawrence 9-2 in the opening 4:31 of the period to take a 67-60 lead. Though Waterson and McDuffee had buckets in the final 12 seconds, it wasn't enough as St. Lawrence finished 1-for-10 from three in overtime, allowing Skidmore to celebrate a crucial 67-65 win.
The Saints will play at SUNY Canton on Thursday, February 12 at 7pm before returning to conference action at Clarkson on Wednesday, February 18 at 6pm. A victory over the Golden Knights will clinch a home game in the 2014 conference semifinals.
