Box Score Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Skidmore opened the second half on a 10-3 run to turn a 22-22 deadlock into a seven-point lead and the Thoroughbreds held off the Rensselaer women's basketball team, 59-53, in a critical Liberty League contest.  First place Skidmore improves to 18-3 overall and 10-1 in the league, increasing its advantage to 2.5 games over second place RPI.  The Engineers fall to 12-9 overall and 7-3 in the league. 

Sophomore Hillary McKinley (Quinebaug, CT / Tourtellotte Memorial) led Rensselaer with 13 points, while adding seven rebounds.  Senior Amanda Brophy (Scituate, MA / Milton Academy) and sophomore Nicole Monroe (Syracuse, NY / West Genesee) both added 10 points and four rebounds.

RPI started the game with a 15-5 lead before the home team went on a 15-4 run for a 20-19 advantage with 2:35 left in the first half.  RPI tied it on a Brophy free throw and the teams traded baskets going into the locker room.

Both teams netted baskets to open the second half before the Thoroughbreds pulled away for a 32-25 edge with 14:02 left in the second half.  RPI trailed by eight points (38-30) with 8:43 to go before mounting a comeback to pull within one point, 38-37, just 1:10 later.  Monroe and Brophy both had layups and Allison Connor (Hudson, NY / Hudson) nailed a three-pointer to cut the deficit. 

A 10-2 run by Skidmore put the home team ahead by nine points with just under five minutes remaining.  The Engineers cut their deficit to three points on four different occasions but couldn't get a tying basket.

Dana Leonard (Cooperstown, NY) led the Thoroughbreds with 17 points on 6 of 11 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point range.  Megan Gaugler (Amsterdam, NY) had 13 points to go along with nine rebounds and two blocks and Amber Kinsey (Troy, NY) added 11 points.