Women's basketball lifts holiday-week spirits

Women’s basketball led the way in Skidmore's winter sports action during Thanksgiving week, picking up its first win of the season. Men’s basketball beat Westfield State, ending a three-game losing streak, while ice hockey notched a 2-2 tie in the consolation final of the 2014 Skidmore Invitational Tournament after suffering a 5-2 setback in the tournament’s opening game.

Women’s basketball recorded its first victory of the season, knocking off Hamilton. The Thoroughbreds (1-2) scored 17 points off turnovers, earning a 57-50 win. Angela Botiba ’15 posted her first double-double, scoring a

team-high 14 points along with 11 rebounds. Molly McLaughlin ’15 added 11 points and four assists and Kelly Donnelly ’18 contributed nine points, three assists and four steals. The team hits the road to take on Williams College at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Men’s basketball rebounded from two tightly contested losses with a 78-68 win over Westfield State. The team suffered its second straight overtime defeat on Tuesday, losing 60-57 against Plattsburgh. Connor Merrill ’15 led all scorers with 20 points and Isaac Carp ’16 had a team-high 10 rebounds off the bench. The Thoroughbreds (3-3) held a six-point lead against Williams with just over nine minutes to play, but the Ephs rallied late for an 86-77 victory. Aldin Medunjanin ’16 had a game-high 26 points, adding five rebounds and four assists and Erik Sanders ’16 scored a season-high 21 points in the loss. The team bounced back on Sunday with five players scoring double figures, leading to a 78-68 win over Westfield State. Merrill tallied a game-high 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Sanders had 16 points and five assists, Medunjanin produced 16 points, seven rebounds, six steals and five assists and Perun Kovacevic ’15 and Nanribet Yiljep ’15 chipped in 11 points each. The team travels to Middlebury Saturday, Dec. 6, for a 4 p.m. contest.

Ice hockey battled to a 2-2 tie with Johnson & Wales after falling 5-2 to Morrisville at the 2014 Skidmore Invitational Tournament. Andreas Michailidis ’18 and Mickey Foley ’18 both scored against Morrisville and Anthony Bird ’17 produced two assists. Ben Freiberg ’16 stopped 20 of 21 shots he faced after coming in to relieve starting goalie Jack McDonald ’17. Skidmore Invitational All-Tournament selection Marc Cibelli ’17 tallied with 4:57 remaining in regulation against Johnson & Wales, lifting the team to  tie. David Limoges ’15 potted the team’s first goal, scoring first of the season. McDonald turned away 29 shots, including five in the overtime period to help preserve the tie. The team hosts a pair of conference opponents this weekend, facing No. 2 Norwich at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, before taking on Saint Michael’s at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. ~ By Dan St.-Jacques