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Women's Basketball February 3, 2016

CU Women's Basketball Preview - vs. RPI/Union (2/5-6)

Women's Basketball February 3, 2016

CU Women's Basketball Preview - vs. RPI/Union (2/5-6)

Since the team opened up the Liberty League schedule with a pair of losses in early January, the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team has rattled off 10 straight victories to vault itself to the top of the conference standings. The Golden Knights will be looking for a measure of revenge when they face Rensselaer and Union, and the team should have plenty of support as the program celebrates both its Senior Day and Alumni Weekend this Friday and Saturday.

The Golden Knights come into the weekend riding a 10-game winning streak, tied for the third longest streak in program history, with a record of 15-4 overall and 8-2 in the Liberty League. Under head coach Maureen Webster, the Golden Knights have utilized full-court pressure to put the opposition on its heels and this year has seen that defense go to another level. Clarkson is averaging a margin of plus-6.63 turnovers per game, forcing 448 turnovers through just 19 contests this year. Not surprisingly three players rank in the top five in the conference in steals, led by senior Ashley Loggins (4.1 spg) with sophomores Madison Shea (2.5 spg) and Devin Sorell (2.3 spg) rounding out the top five.  Loggins is also among the conference leaders in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg) while Sorell is averaging 15.6 ppg with a conference-high 51 3-pointers. Shea is chipping in 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game to go along with a team-best 50.4% shooting rate, and junior Stephanie Grobe is also tossing in 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest. Clarkson's starting five, rounded out by Alyssia Marsal (6.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg) is producing 87.2% of the team's scoring this season, and that number was pushed to 92.3% in last week's three games.

Rensselaer enters the weekend with a record of 5-13 overall and 1-8 in the Liberty League, and the Engineers lone victory in conference games came against Clarkson back on January 3rd (63-47). The Golden Knights struggled mightily in that game, shooting just 27.5% from the floor overall and scoring just 13 points in the first half. Meanwhile, Rensselaer had four players finish in double figures led by Shaina Iton's near double-double (14 points, 9 rebounds). Iton averages 8.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, but it is freshman guard Sam Krumbhaar who has done the most damage for the Engineers on offense this year. Krumbhaar, despite playing just 22.5 minutes per game, ranks ninth in the league in scoring average with 13.0 ppg. Ashley Clough (11.0 ppg), Elizabeth Eckhardt (9.9 ppg) and LaKissa Martin (8.8 ppg) also make their mark in a diverse offense.

Union's offense is even more diverse than the Engineers, and the game-by-game unexpected breakouts have made the Dutchwomen (14-4, 8-2) a difficult team for opponents this year, including Clarkson, which lost 63-57 in the first meeting between the two teams. Entering the weekend, Union has had five different players lead them in scoring on two occasions this year. Such balance doesn't help the players show up in the upper echelon of the league leaders, but it has helped them lead the conference in field goal percentage (44.0%) and 3-point field goal percentage (33.2%). Abby Katz leads the team in scoring (10.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg), but she is followed closely by Amy Fisher (10.0 ppg), Natalie Leone (9.9 ppg) and Stephanie Borg (8.7 ppg).
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Players Mentioned

Stephanie Grobe

#21 Stephanie Grobe

G
5' 10"
Junior
Ashley Loggins

#11 Ashley Loggins

F
5' 10"
Senior
Alyssia Marsal

#22 Alyssia Marsal

F
5' 10"
Junior
Madison Shea

#10 Madison Shea

G
5' 6"
Sophomore
Devin Sorell

#24 Devin Sorell

G
5' 3"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Stephanie Grobe

#21 Stephanie Grobe

5' 10"
Junior
G
Ashley Loggins

#11 Ashley Loggins

5' 10"
Senior
F
Alyssia Marsal

#22 Alyssia Marsal

5' 10"
Junior
F
Madison Shea

#10 Madison Shea

5' 6"
Sophomore
G
Devin Sorell

#24 Devin Sorell

5' 3"
Sophomore
G