SLU LOSES TO SKIDMORE IN OT, FINISHES 2ND IN LEAGUE

 

Feb. 19: The St. Lawrence women’s basketball team lost to Skidmore this afternoon in over time, 66-68, to put themselves in second place in the Liberty League final standings. William Smith finished in first place, and will host the Liberty League women’s basketball tournament next weekend.

 

Skidmore’s Katie Bronson scored off of her own offensive rebound at the buzzer to give the Thoroughbreds the upset win.

 

The Saint’s only lead of the first half came when Meredith Pridgen opened the game with a layup. Skidmore’s Lisa Mason would hit a jumper 30 seconds later to tie the game at 2-2, then, Alyssa Bennett made a three to give the 5-2 lead to the Thoroughbreds. They would not surrender the lead until the second half.

 

At the half, the score was 27-24 in favor of Skidmore. Jamie Wolff opened the second half for the Saints with a three pointer, and they would go on to take the lead for the remainder of the half until Mason forced overtime with a field goal with 40.9 seconds left in regulation.

 

Andrea Muszynski had a chance with 14 seconds left to put the Saints up by 2, but missed a jumper. Wolff also had a three point opportunity with 6 seconds left, but could not get it to fall.

 

In overtime, Muszynski converted a three point play to put SLU up by 3. Skidmore, then made 3 free throws and a layup to earn a 2 point lead. Nora Curley then made 2 free throws to tie the game with 39 seconds remaining, but Bronson scored off of her own offensive rebound at the buzzer to give the Thoroughbreds the upset win.

On the night, Wolff scored 15 points, and added 3 assists. Pridgen scored 14 points, and grabbed 14 rebounds. Curley scored 10 points, including 6 free throws.

 

The Saints will play in the Liberty League tournament this coming weekend at William Smith. The times are still to be determined.

 

 

 

SAINTS PUT THEMSELVES IN GREAT POSITION TO WIN LEAGUE

 

SCHENECTADY, N.Y.-Brittany Gaetano's (left) three-point field goal with 5:44 left broke a 44-44 tie and St. Lawrence went on to defeat Union, 55-51, in a key Liberty League women's basketball game at the Viniar Athletic Center.  

 

The loss, coupled with William Smith's 57-40 victory over Rensselaer, ends the Dutchwomen's one year reign as the circuit's regular-season champions. William Smith and St. Lawrence are now tied for the top spot at 10-3 with one game remaining. One of them will host next week's tournament with the eventual champion representing the Liberty League in the upcoming NCAA tournament.  

 

Junior forward Courtney Shepard followed Gaetano's tre with a layup to cut Union 's deficit to one before Andrea Muszysnki's two free throws put the Saints back up by three. Senior guard Melissa Marra's layup with 3:37 showing again brought Union back to within one, 49-48, before back-to-back layups by Gaetano and Meredith Pridgen gave the 14-8 Saints a 53-48 advantage with 1:46 to play.  

 

Senior forward Katlyn Cunningham's layup with 52 seconds showing cut the Saints' lead to 53-50 and her free throw with 42 tickes left brought Union to within two, 53-51. But Union, which is now 9-4 in the circuit and 16-7 overall, missed a layup and a three-point field goal, the later coming with one second showing, before Gaetano rounded out the final margin by connecting on two free throws.  

 

The Saints, who are now 14-8 overall, broke an 11-11 tie by outscoring the Dutchwomen 15-5 over a six minute span to take a 26-16 lead with 3:38 left in the first half as Jessica Zuk converted Nora Curley's pass into a three-point field goal. Muszynski started the run by connecting on a pair of free throws before a three-pointer by Gaetano preceded a layup by Pridgen and a layup by Zuk that gave St. Lawrence a 20-11 lead with 5:48 showing.  

Two free throws by sophomore forward Krystal Hammond and a three-pointer by Cunningham brought the Dutchwomen back to within four, 20-16, with 4:33 left, before Zuk knocked down consecutive field goals from outside the arch to give the Saints their 10-point advantage.  

 

Cunninghman started Union's comeback by scoring on a layup before senior guard Melissa Marra connected on a long three with 2:13 to bring Union back to within five, 26-21, with 2:13 remaining. Senior forward Emily Scott hit a jumper with 1:11 left and Courtney Shepard hit two free throws with 47 ticks showing as Union climbed to within one, 26-25, at the break.  

 

Gaetano finished with a game-high 18 points for the Saints while Zuk contributed 13 points and Muszynski 10. Pridgen pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.  

 

Union was led by Emily Scott's 11 points while Cunningham added 10 points and a team-high eight boards.