Lisa Olszewski '11 tied a career high with 16 points to lead Hamilton College to a 52-44 win against Clarkson University in a Liberty League women's basketball game at Clarkson's Alumni Gymnasium on Feb. 12.
Olszewski added six rebounds and four blocked shots. She was 6 of 8 from the field and 4-for-6 at the free-throw line. Claire Hunsinger '13 added 12 points in 13 minutes off the bench. Madie Harlem '13 chipped in nine points, seven boards, four assists and tied a career high with six steals. Kim Goidell '13 scored eight points and Blue Sanders '13 handed out four assists.Hamilton (8-12 overall, 2-10 Liberty) ended its losing skid at four games. The Continentals committed just eight turnovers and held a 35-33 edge in rebounding.
The Golden Knights (5-17, 2-10) lost their third straight game -- all at home. Clarkson shot 35.6 percent from the field, but was 8 of 20 (40 percent) from 3-point range.
In the first half, Clarkson shot well from the perimeter, going 5 of 10 from beyond the 3-point arc. But those 15 points accounted for nearly all of the Knights scoring, as the team made just one of their 13 other attempts, and had no free throws. Hamilton took advantage by pounding the ball inside to shoot nearly 50 percent in the paint. Olszewski scored 10 first-half points on 5 of 6 shooting. The Continentals led 25-17 at the break.
Early in the second half, Clarkson pulled to within four points at 28-24, but Hamilton ran off seven straight points to push its advantage to double figures. From that point on, the Knights began to improve their performance inside, but Hamilton always had responses for Clarkson's small runs. The Continentals shot 14-for-20 at the free-throw line, including 11-for-14 in the final 20 minutes.
Clarkson's Chrissy Scanlon produced another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Lauren Pluchino added 10 rebounds. Katie Goldberg had 14 points as she was 5 of 9 overall, including four 3-point field goals.
Hamilton travels to Middlebury College for a non-league game on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
