Potsdam, NY – Three players finished in double figures for Hamilton College, as the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team fell to the Continentals 67-44 in Liberty League action Friday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Golden Knights dropped to 3-13 overall and 0-6 in conference games, while Hamilton evened its Liberty League slate at 3-3 and improved to 10-6 overall. Clarkson will host William Smith tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm.
In the early going, Clarkson struggled with the Continentals full court pressure, turning the ball over 12 times in the first 10 minutes of action. However, a key move by Clarkson head coach KJ Krasco came with under nine minutes to go when sophomore guard Morgan Carella (Roslyn Heights, NY) was inserted as point guard. Steadying the team’s offense with solid ball control, Carella helped lead the Knights on a run 14-3 run down the stretch, giving Clarkson its first lead with 1:30 to go in the half. A 3-pointer by Hamilton’s Alex Sowinski in the final minute returned the lead to the Continentals, and Hamilton went into the locker room with a two-point advantage, 26-24.
Junior Lauren Pluchino (Liverpool, NY) led both teams with eight points in the first half, while Sowinski scored seven points to lead Hamilton. The two teams combined for 28 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
Starting the second half, Hamilton found its groove offensively, combining several long range shots with solid interior passing which produced numerous lay ups. Conversely, the Knights had trouble converting inside, as numerous lay ups, which appeared to be on the way down, fell harmlessly off the rim and into the arms of the Continentals.
With Clarkson trailing by 10 points midway through the second half, it appeared as if the team was still capable of making a run and pulling out a victory, but a well-placed 15-2 run by the Continentals turned their advantage into a 23-point lead, one which was far too much to overcome.
Pluchino finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks to lead Clarkson, while Carey Turner (Clifton Park, NY) contributed 9 points and 6 rebounds. Madie Harlem led all scorers with 15 points and added in 7 rebounds and 4 assists for Hamilton, while Alex Sowinski and Kim Goidell each scored 10 points.