Skidmore College erased a nine-point halftime deficit with a 9-0 run to start the second half, and the Thoroughbreds clamped down on defense in a 65-51 win against Hamilton College in a 2010 Liberty League tournament semifinal at Skidmore's Sports & Recreation Center on Feb. 26.
No. 1 seed Skidmore (21-4 overall) will face No. 3 Rensselaer in the tournament final on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. The Red Hawks defeated St. Lawrence University 67-55 in the evening's first semifinal.
Eliza Howe ‘13 paced the fourth-seeded Continentals with 15 points before she fouled out. Reisa Asimovic ‘11 chipped in 12 points and five assists. Those five assists allowed Asimovic to tie the team record for assists in a season with 110, which was set by Dawn Roselli in 1986-87. Howe and Asimovic were credited with three steals apiece.
Cate Schafer ‘10 pulled down nine rebounds and Alex Sowinski '10 scored nine points. Lisa Olszewski '11 blocked three shots. Hamilton (15-10) shot just 18 percent from the field in the second half, including 1 of 13 from 3-point range. Skidmore held a 44-34 advantage in rebounds.
Cate Schafer ‘10 pulled down nine rebounds and Alex Sowinski '10 scored nine points. Lisa Olszewski '11 blocked three shots. Hamilton (15-10) shot just 18 percent from the field in the second half, including 1 of 13 from 3-point range. Skidmore held a 44-34 advantage in rebounds.
Skidmore scored the first point, but Hamilton grabbed the lead shortly thereafter and kept it for the rest of the first half. The Continentals shot 52.2 percent from the floor (4 of 7 from 3-point range) to grab a 36-27 lead at the break.
The Thoroughbreds outscored Hamilton 38-15 in the final 20 minutes. Skidmore opened the second half with nine straight points to tie the score at 36 with 16:15 left. A Skidmore 3-pointer with 9:13 remaining gave the Thoroughbreds the lead for good at 43-40.
The Continentals still were within three points at 52-49 after a 3-pointer by Sowinski with 3:39 left. Skidmore went 11-for-14 at the free-throw line in the final 92 seconds to clinch the victory. Hamilton finished the night 12-for-19 from the foul line and shot 25 percent from behind the arc.
The Thoroughbreds won for the first time in four league tournament appearances. Hamilton -- making its seventh appearance in the tournament -- dropped to 3-6 all-time.
