Playoff races heat up as winter season winds down

Women's basketball recorded a 2-1 record in league action last week, securing wins over Hamilton and William Smith. In the lone loss last Tuesday at Union, junior Megan Gaugler (Amsterdam, N.Y.) recorded a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while classmate Christina Gargiso (Staten Island, N.Y.) added 18. On Friday against Hamilton, the duo of Gaugler and Gargiso made their mark, as Gaugler tallied 18 and Gargiso finished with 14, while senior Christine Kemp (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) dished out a game-high seven assists. In Saturday's 56-49 win over William Smith, Gaugler poured in 20 points to go with eight rebounds and five steals and senior Ismatu Alison-Konteh (Bronx, N.Y.) came off the bench to grab eight rebounds. The Thoroughbreds are now 10-10 overall, 6-4 in the league, and travel to Rensselaer Friday , Feb. 11, for a 6 p.m. tip. 

Men's basketball also finished last week with a 2-1 record, collecting league wins over Union and Hamilton before falling to Hobart on Saturday. At Union, junior Gerard O'Shea (West Sand Lake, N.Y.) had a team-high 16 points as senior Jeff Altimar (Medfield, Mass.) chipped in with 14 in the 73-67 win. Altimar came back on Friday night with 16 points and O'Shea finished with 10 points and six assists to help Skidmore earn the season sweep over Hamilton. In the loss to Hobart, junior Melvis Langyintuo (Tamale, Ghana) had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and classmate Kyle Clark finished with nine points, eight rebounds, and five assists. The Thoroughbreds are in second place in the Liberty League with a 7-3 league record and 13-8 overall; they take on RPI at 8 p.m. Friday night.

Ice hockey saw its five-game winning streak come to an end after last Saturday's loss at Southern Maine. In Skidmore's 2-1 win over University of New England last Friday night, freshman Brad Schuler (Delran, N.J.) tallied the game-winner with 11:25 remaining. Senior Alex Mykolenko (Kharkov, Ukraine) scored the Thoroughbreds' other goal and junior goalie Colin Bessey (Montclair, N.J.) made 25 saves. On Saturday, Mykolenko and junior Nick Dupuis (Holyoke, Mass.) each scored and junior Andrew Ross finished with 14 saves in goal. The Thoroughbreds' record now stands at 8-11-2 overall, 7-6-2 in the league; they host St. Michael's at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11.

Women's swimming and diving hosted Liberty League rivals William Smith and Vassar last Saturday for the Skidmore Sprint Invite. Sophomore Carrie Koch (Wellesley, Mass.) was a double winner in the 500 Free and 100 Free and finished second in the 200 Free. Freshman Katherine Kelloway (Marblehead, Mass.) won the 400 IM and placed second in the 100 Free. Sophomore diver Kristen Stearns (Torrington, Conn.) took first on the 1-meter dive and finished 2^nd in the 3-meter dive. The men's swimming and diving team returns to action at the Vassar Sprint Invite this Saturday, Feb. 12. ~ By Cody Berschwinger