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Williamstown, MA — Four players scored in double figures Saturday as the Williams College women's basketball team stayed unbeaten with a 68-50 win over Skidmore in their own Holiday Classic.
Senior Taylor Shea was named the tournament MVP, while Williams junior Lisa Jaris earned all-tournament honors. Both Shea and Jaris had 12 points and eight rebounds in the win over Skidmore, while sophomore Claire Baecher led the team with 16 and classmate Jennie Harding added 10.
The Ephs are off until Saturday, Dec. 11th, when they travel to play Hamilton at 2 p.m. Skidmore slipped to 2-4 with the defeat. The Thoroughbreds were led by all-tournament selection Ismatu Alison-Konteh, who had six points and nine rebounds.
Williams head coach Pat Manning said, "I thought that Taylor was our most consistent player this weekend and she got most of the credit. Lisa really made things happen in the paint and the reason why she played so well was she did all of the little things right."
Skidmore played the majority of the game in a 2-3 zone, but Williams was able to execute and jump out to an early lead that they were able to maintain for the remainder of the game. Coach Pat Manning "We haven't seen a zone yet this year, but we know how to play against it and I am happy at how we executed."
In the beginning of the game Jill Greenberg saved the ball from going out of bounds to an open Claire Baecher who scored the basket and got fouled in the process, Baecher made the free throw and converted the three point play. Baecher had a big block on the defensive end which leads to a three by Jennie Harding in transition. Skidmore called a timeout with 14:30 minutes remaining and the score 12-5.
Grace Rehnquist hit a deep three to increase the Ephs lead 21-9. Cyrida Felton was able to weave through the Ephs defense and score with the shot clock winding down. Megan Gaugler hit two threes in a row cutting into the Williams lead forcing Williams to take a timeout with 2:47 left in the half and the score 28-17.
In the three minutes leading into half time both teams got hot from behind the arch. Baecher hit two threes on consecutive possessions. Gaugler hit another three in between Baecher's pair, and Michela Ottati hit a three with time running out in the half. Williams entered the half with a 38-23 lead.
Skidmore was able to stay within striking distance in the first half is their great three point shoot. The Thoroughbreds shot 47.1% for the game.
Williams was able to pull away at the start of the second half. Baecher converted on an old fashion three-point play, and Jennie Harding hit a three making the score 46-25 and causing a Skidmore timeout with 16:24 left in the game. Then Williams went on a 17 to 9 run getting its biggest lead of the game making the score 63-34 with 9:19 left in game.
In the other game of the day RPI defeats Trinity 71-68 in a close game. RPI was lead by Sarah Wetmore who had 20 points, shooting 12-12 from the foul line and pulling down 10 rebounds; Linda Larsen also had 19 points. Trinity's leading scorers were Michelle Royals and Kristen Fahey both with 16 points.
With the win RPI improves to 2-3. Their next opponent will be Utica College December 7th at 6pm. With the lose Trinity falls 5-2. Their next game will be Worcester State also on December 7th at 7pm. Williams next game will be against Hamilton College on December 11th at 2pm.
