Basketball teams remain Liberty League powerhouses

Skidmore’s winter sports teams posted a 3-1 record last week, as women’s and men’s basketball each notched wins at Clarkson to remain atop the Liberty League standings and ice hockey toppled Southern Maine before falling against the University of New England. Men’s and women’s swimming and diving were also in action, returning to the pool at the Rensselaer Kumpf Invitational.

Men’s basketball extended its winning streak to five with a 63-46 win at Clarkson. The team pulled away in the second half as Erik Sanders ’16 scored 14 of his game-high 17 points and Aldin Medunjanin ’16 produced nine points and five rebounds, helping the Thoroughbreds outscore the Golden Knights 31-21 in the frame. Sanders and Medunjanin also pulled down 10 and 11 rebounds, respectively. Connor Merrill ’15 tallied 10 points and Perun Kovacevic ’15 contributed seven points and 10 boards. The team, which improved to 5-0 in conference play, travels to Union Friday night before returning home for Saturday’s Big Green Scream, when the Thoroughbreds take on Hobart at 4 p.m.

A near triple-double by Molly McLaughlin ’15 kept women’s basketball unbeaten in Liberty League play, as the team knocked off Clarkson, 80-71. McLaughlin was one of four Thoroughbreds to score in double figures, producing 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds and nine assists. Lindsey Davis ’16 led all players with 15 points, Angela Botiba ’15 had 14 points and eight boards and Kelly Donnelly ’18 recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The team shot 52 percent (13-25) from the field in the second half and 45.9 percent (28-61) for the game. The Thoroughbreds make the short trip to Union Friday night before hosting William Smith at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, as part of the Big Green Scream.

Ice hockey returned to ECAC East play with a 5-2 win Friday night over Southern Maine. Marc Cibelli ’17 and Anthony Bird ’17 gave the team a 2-0 lead in the first period and Thomas Park ’15 made it 3-0 midway through the second with his first goal of the season. The Huskies responded late in the second, but Cibelli restored the Thoroughbreds’ three-goal lead with eight minutes remaining in the third to put the game out of reach. Ondrej Krajnak ’16 produced three assists on the night and Jack McDonald ’17 turned away 29 shots in the win. The team dropped its second contest of the weekend against the University of New England, 2-0, as the Nor’easters' two first-period goals were enough to seal the win. McDonald made 31 saves in the loss. The team goes on the road to face Saint Anselm at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23.

Men’s and women’s Swimming and diving returned to the pool at the Rensselaer Kumpf Invitational. The men’s team placed sixth of seven teams, while the women came in fifth of six teams.

Men’s diver Jacob Nathan ’15 had two top-3 finishes, placing third in the 1-meter and 3-meter events. Nick Sauerbrunn ’15 earned valuable points with a fourth-place finish in the 500 free and an eighth-place finish in the 200 free and Gabriel Salitan-Alvarez ’17 touched in sixth in the 1000 free.

On the women’s side, Catherine King ’15 was fifth in the 50 free and sixth in the 100 free, while Erin Donovan ’17 placed seventh in the 200 back and eighth in the 200 free.

The teams return to RPI for a dual meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. ~ By Dan St.-Jacques