SKIDMORE OUTLASTS CLARKSON in OT

January 14, 2006

Monica Thomas scored 15 points and added 8 assists and 8 rebounds against Skidmore - photo by Chris Lenney

Potsdam, NY – Krystal Coke scored 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as Skidmore outlasted the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team 71-55 in overtime in a Liberty League contest Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights fell to 4-9 overall and 0-2 in the conference while Skidmore moved to 6-7 on the season with a 1-2 Liberty League mark. Clarkson returns to action next weekend when they visit Rensselaer and Vassar.

The two teams nearly played even for the opening nine minutes with Skidmore enjoying a modest four-point lead, 12-8. However, the Golden Knights went on a 10-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Monica Thomas (Sandwich, MA), giving Clarkson a 18-14 lead with 7:50 left. Clarkson would hold at least a one-point lead for the remainder of the half and went into the locker room with a 28-25 advantage.

Thomas and Erika Fritjofson (East Barre, VT) each scored eight points to lead the Golden Knights while Krystal Coke shot 5-for-9 from the floor for a half-high of 10 points in addition to five rebounds.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Skidmore took a four-point lead through the 15:07 mark, but Clarkson responded with a 8-0 run over the next four minutes to regain their advantage. In response, Skidmore went on a 10-3 run over a two-minute span to retake the lead 46-45, but again Clarkson came back with a pair of 3-pointers from Fritjofson and Thomas to gain a five-point lead. In the waning moments of the second half, the Thoroughbreds were able to pick up a couple of lay ups and tied the score with less than 35 seconds remaining.

The overtime period was dominated by Skidmore as the Thoroughbreds began the five-minute stanza with a 9-0 run up to the 2:02 mark after a basket from Krystal Coke. The Thoroughbreds tacked on a sizeable advantage in the overtime with 13 free throws for a 19-3 run in the final five minutes.

Fritjofson finished with 19 points and five rebounds, playing all 45 minutes of the game for Clarkson. Monica Thomas scored a career-high 15 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Sarah Wesner (Sidney, NY) also scored 10 points and produced 7 rebounds with 5 steals.

Coke shot 11-for-18 from the floor for her game-high 23 points while Kellye Caufield contributed 18 points and six rebounds. Laurel Brown also added 15 points and three steals for Skidmore.

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