CU Women's Basketball Preview - vs. RPI/Skidmore (2/16-17)

Ivan Henwood

Women's Basketball | 2/14/2024 9:30:00 AM

The final games of 2023-24 await this weekend for the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team, as the Golden Knights close out the season with home games against Rensselaer and Skidmore.

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The Series: Cassidy Dumont scored in double figures against both RPI and Skidmore in the first meetings of the season back in early December, but she was the only player to do so for the Knights as the team struggled on offense, averaging 34.5 points per game that first league weekend. RPI came away with a 72-40 win while Skidmore won a defensive struggle, 45-29.

Key Stats for Clarkson (4-19, 2-14 Liberty League): Cassidy Dumont will not be repeating as the league's leading scorer this season, but the junior guard has all but locked up the conference title for steals, as she has averaged 2.4 per game and has a total of 55 entering the final weekend, 10 more than any other player in the Liberty League. She has also leapt up the all-time leader board at Clarkson in scoring with 950 career points, needing only 30 more to enter the top 10. Raelin Burns ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per contest, due in large part to her ability to get to the free throw line, where she leads the conference in makes (88) and attempts (123).

Key Stats for Rensselaer (8-15, 5-11 Liberty League): The Engineers have lost the last four games they played, although that number is split due to a win via forfeit. Siena Smith leads the team in scoring (13.5 ppg) and is shooting 45.5% from the field, though that number is boosted to 52.4% on shots from inside the arc. Despite Smith's strong numbers for the full season, it was Nicole DaPra that stood out in the first meeting against Clarkson. DaPra averages 8.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, but posted 24 points and eight boards against the Knights in December, shooting 10-for-12 from the field with four makes on five tries from the 3-point arc.

Key Stats for Skidmore (19-4, 14-2 Liberty League): Winners of 10 straight in conference and needing just one win this weekend to clinch a bye for the first round of the Liberty League playoffs, Skidmore has the conference's top defense by virtually every metric. The Thoroughbreds lead the league in scoring defense (44.7 ppg), defensive field goal percentage (32.2%), 3-point field goal defense (24.4%), blocks per game (5.70 bpg), rebounding margin (plus-9.0 rpg), opponents' rebounding (33.7 rpg), and even opponents' free throw percentage (60.4%). Skidmore ranks third in NCAA Division III in points allowed per game and is 12th in blocked shots while also ranking 16th in field goal defense. Julia Blanck leads the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (9.9 rpg) and is the leader in the conference in blocked shots (2.3 bpg).

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Players Mentioned

#10 Raelin Burns: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#2 Cassidy Dumont: G; 5' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#10 Raelin Burns
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#2 Cassidy Dumont
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#10 Raelin Burns

#2 Cassidy Dumont

Players Mentioned

#10 Raelin Burns

#2 Cassidy Dumont