Knights Start Off Conference Play with Overtime Win

Katelyn Curtis scored five of her 10 points in overtime against Skidmore on Tuesday. - Photo by Gary Mikel

Box Score

Potsdam, NY – After a sluggish first half and losing a nine-point edge late in the contest, the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team rallied in overtime to earn a 49-43 victory over Skidmore College in the Liberty League conference opener Tuesday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights improved to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the Liberty League, while Skidmore saw a four-game winning streak come to an end and their record evened at 5-5 overall and 0-1 in league games.

In a very low-scoring first half, it was tough for either team to make much of a run to change the outlook of the game in regards to points. Clarkson was held scoreless for the first four minutes, but the Thoroughbreds didn't take advantage of the opportunity, scoring only six points. Ashley Loggins (Albany, NY) came off the bench to end the Knights' scoring drought, nailing a 3-pointer and then picking up three more points on a layup and a free throw. However, Skidmore held the Knights scoreless for the next eight minutes and added five points to its total for a 13-6 lead midway through the half. Clarkson then more than doubled its offensive output with a 10-0 run 2:05, taking the lead on a 3-pointer from Cara Manfredi (Glastonbury, CT) at 3:45. Skidmore tallied a pair of free throws to cut the margin to a single point at the half.

Both teams shot just 6-for-31 in the first half (19.4%) and neither team shot particularly well from the perimeter either, as Skidmore made one of its 12 3-point field goal attempts. The Knights went 3-for-11 from beyond the arc (27.3%), a better rate than on the inside (3-for-20, 15.0%). Clarkson improved its shooting down the stretch, starting the game 2-for-21 before making four of its final 10 attempts from the floor.

Clarkson again struggled to start the second half in missing its first six shots and not scoring until Isabella Esposito (Essex, VT) made a shot at the 14:51 mark, but despite the drought the Knights were able to rally back and actually take the lead at 32-31 at the 5:35 mark, using a 9-1 run. From the 7:45 mark to the 1:11 mark, Skidmore was held without a point and after a 3-pointer from Cara Manfredi, it appeared as if the Knights would pull out the victory. However, the Knights were unable to secure the victory with free throws down the stretch, and a 3-pointer in the corner from Skidmore's Allie Keller tied the game at 40-40 with 17 seconds to go and the game went into overtime. Unlike the second half, the Knights got in front and would not relinquish the lead, as Curtis hit a 3-pointer with three minutes to go to put Clarkson up for good. An open court lay in by Brooke Butkovsky (Monroe, CT) and a free throw from Alyssia Marsal (Clifton Park, NY) were enough in the waning seconds to finish off the contest.

Cara Manfredi led Clarkson with 12 points, all coming on 3-point field goals, while Ashley Loggins and Katelyn Curtis each chipped in 10 points, with Loggins adding in eight rebounds. Brooke Butkovsky also produced nine boards and three steals. For Skidmore, Jordyn Wartts had a game-high 14 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Angela Bitoba shot 5-for-9 from the floor for 11 points and picked up 14 boards.

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