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Clarkson University Athletics

2019-20 Clarkson Women's Basketball Preview

By: November 10, 2019

Women's Basketball | 11/10/2019 10:05:00 AM

Last season was expected to be a transition year as the team was incredibly young, but the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team was highly competitive with an energetic attitude and plenty of makes from the perimeter. An extra year of experience for the veterans and a strong class of newcomers has the Golden Knights expecting more in 2019-20.

Clarkson will open the season at the Max Ziel Tournament, hosted by Oswego State, on November 15-16 as the Green and Gold jumps right into the season with five games in 11 days prior to Thanksgiving.

The Veterans: The lone senior on the squad, Molly Stewart earned Liberty League All-Star honors last year, taking a step forward as the team's top option on offense. Stewart averaged 15.3 points per game, reaching double figures in 21 contests and surpassing 20 points on five occasions. She also hit 64 3-pointers, leading Clarkson's long-range attack. Supplementing that deluge of 3-pointers were juniors Carly Assimon and Rachel Marion. Assimon served as the team's point guard, but hit her share of 3-pointers from the top of the key, burying 52 shots from beyond the arc to average 8.5 points per game. Marion also chipped in 40 3-pointers as one of 11 players in the conference to hit at least that many, helping her average 6.4 points per game to go along with 4.8 rebounds per contest. Junior Hannah Earl provided some versatility to the shooters as a player who could take defenders off the dribble from the outside and was quick on the interior, notching 7.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Classmate Emma Buonanno was instant energy off the bench for the second straight year and her hustling style of play always provided the Knights with a spark as she averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore Claire Flannery and Maddie Pratt also gave Clarkson valuable minutes as reserves and each looks to add to their minute totals in 2019-20.

The Newcomers: Clarkson will be bolstered by a strong group of freshmen and one transfer in 2019-20. Sophomore Lauren Bell comes to Potsdam via St. John Fisher and should immediately add to the team's depth in the frontcourt. First-year collegians Elaina Porter and Isabelle Sullivan give the Knights additional dimensions on offense as well, with Porter providing a solid inside-outside game and Porter capable of taking opponents off the dribble. Diminutive point guard Mariah Benavides is quick and possesses a good handle while fellow guards Sierra Gonyo and Abigail Kienzle will add to the stable of guards that Clarkson likes to use on the perimeter.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Carly Assimon: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#30 Emma Buonanno: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#20 Hannah Earl: G/F; 5' 8"; Junior

#2 Claire Flannery: G; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#24 Rachel Marion: G/F; 5' 7"; Junior

#10 Maddie Pratt: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#1 Molly Stewart: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#3 Mariah Benavides: G; 5' 1"; Freshman

#15 Elaina Porter: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

#21 Lauren Bell: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#11 Carly Assimon
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#30 Emma Buonanno
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#20 Hannah Earl
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G/F

#2 Claire Flannery
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: G

#24 Rachel Marion
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G/F

#10 Maddie Pratt
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F

#1 Molly Stewart
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#3 Mariah Benavides
: 5' 1"; Freshman
: G

#15 Elaina Porter
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F

#21 Lauren Bell
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F