Saratoga Springs, NY – Skidmore’s Dana Leonard finished off a 3-point play after making a lay up with just 19 seconds remaining as the Thoroughbreds responded to a late run by the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team and downed the Golden Knights 59-57 in Liberty League action Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Knights fell to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in conference games, while Skidmore picked up their first conference victory to improve to 4-9 and 1-2. Clarkson continues its extended road trip on Tuesday when it faces St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.

The first half saw the two teams teeter back and forth with neither being able to take any kind of significant advantage. In the second half, the Thoroughbreds started to assert themselves and slowly began to build a lead. Skidmore enjoyed a double-digit advantage with seven minutes remaining, but Clarkson went on an 11-0 run  over the course of four of the final five minutes, taking a 57-55 lead on free throws from Michelle Reddinger (Baldwinsville, NY) with 1:07 remaining. However, Leonard made a lay up with 19 seconds to go to tie the game and then converted a free throw to return Skidmore’s lead. The Knights were unable to get a quality shot up on their next possession, and the Thoroughbreds made another free throw with just a few seconds left for the final tally.

Reddinger finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 11-for-14 from the free throw line. Lauren Pluchino (Liverpool, NY) contributed 13 points and 7 rebounds, and Katie Goldberg (Stowe, VT) added in 9 points. For Skidmore, Leonard had 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Megan Gaugler and Kellye Caufield produced 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Both teams struggled from the field, but were clutch from the free throw line. Clarkson shot 16-for-20, while the Thoroughbreds were 15-for-16, including 11-for-12 in the second half. Clarkson out rebounded Skidmore 43-32, including 17 rebounds on the offensive end.