Potsdam, NY – Sophomore Lauren Pluchino (Liverpool, NY) scored all of her team-high 16 points in the second half, sparking the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team to a 61-57 come-from-behind victory over Oswego State Thursday night at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Golden Knights improved to 5-6 to close out the non-conference schedule, and will face Union and Skidmore to start Liberty League play next weekend. The Lakers dropped to 4-6.
Neither team could muster much offense in the opening minutes as only Oswego was able to make a jumper in the first few moments. The two teams combined to shoot just 2-for-16 through the first six minutes before Oswego finally found a rhythm and got a couple of shots to fall. The same could not be said for Clarkson, as the Knights struggled with the close defense of the Lakers. However, after Katie Goldberg (Stowe, VT) buried a pair of 3-pointers, the Knights round themselves down by just three at the 8:51 mark. The Lakers used another 11-2 run to return their advantage to double figures, and Oswego went into the locker room with a 35-20 advantage.
Freshman guard Amanda Koenck (Pottstown, PA) led the Knights with six points and four rebounds, making a pair of 3-pointers. Goldberg did the same for her six points for Clarkson. Rachel Kohrs led the way for Oswego with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals in the first half. Heather Merino also added 11 points.
The second half was an entirely different story as the Knights went on a scoring barrage midway through the period. Trailing 40-27 with just over 14 minutes to go, Clarkson went on a 16-3 run by going inside for lay ups, tying the game up at 43-43. After taking a brief lead, the game was re-tied at 48-48, and from there Pluchino had another of her offensive outbursts with eight points in just under three minutes, heading an 11-2 run by Clarkson to give the Knights an eight-point edge, 59-51. From there, the Knights made a pair of free throws and held on for the victory.
Pluchino added in 10 rebounds for her game, shooting 6-for-7 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. Koenck added 12 points and Michelle Reddinger (Baldwinsville, NY) contributed 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
For Oswego, Heather Merino scored 20 points to lead all scorers while Kayla Ryan contributed 11 points.
