Last Second 3-Pointer Misses Mark as Clarkson Falls to RIT

Box Score

Potsdam, NY – Jess Kramer hit a 3-pointer with a minute remaining to put RIT up for good as the Tigers held off the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team 51-49 in Liberty League action Friday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights dipped back below .500 at 7-8 overall this season and 2-5 in conference games. RIT moved up to 5-2 in the Liberty League and 9-7 overall.

In the opening half Clarkson was able to find holes in the RIT defense for some open looks, but its shooting percentage of 16.7% wasn't enough to gain more than a two-point edge at the break. The Knights jumped out to a 12-4 lead as RIT went seven-plus minutes without a point. Clarkson produced 36 shots in the first half, thanks in large part to second-chance opportunities with 12 offensive rebounds, converting seven points on those chances. However, eventually the Tigers were able to convert on some outside shots and change an eight-point deficit to just two. In fact, RIT went on a 9-2 run in the final 2:31 to change a 21-13 disadvantage to just a 24-22 margin at the half.

Sophomore Ashley Loggins (Albany, NY) scored a team-best nine points in the first half to go along with three steals and junior guard Cara Manfredi (Glastonbury, CT) was pesky on the boards, sneaking around to pick up seven rebounds. RIT's Courtney Tennant used her size to nearly reach double digits in rebounds in the first half with nine, adding in three blocks, and Ashlynn Palmitesso scored a game-high 11 points in the first 20 minutes.

RIT earned its first lead of the game on the opening possession of the second half and gained the momentum early on as the Knights fell behind by nine just six minutes into the second half. From there, it was a slow crawl back for Clarkson as Isabella Esposito (Essex, VT) scored six points in a short stretch to help the Knights rally back and tie the score 41-41 with 6:42 remaining. A layup by Loggins at the 2:42 mark gave Clarkson a brief lead, 44-43, but the Tigers came right back to reclaim their advantage. A 3-pointer from Cara Manfredi gave Clarkson a two-point edge with 1:13 to go, but Kramer's clutch 3-pointer from the corner with 54 seconds remaining was an unfortunate response from the Clarkson perspective. The Tigers hit two more free throws in the final seconds and Loggins hit two more to bring the deficit back to just one. With 8.7 seconds to go Sydney Frank hit one of her free throws to force Clarkson to make a shot just to send the game to overtime and Manfredi's desperation 3-pointer from in front of the Clarkson bench was off the mark to give the Tigers the win.

Neither team shot particularly well, with RIT making 21.8% of its attempts (12-for-55) and Clarkson barely bettering that percentage at 24.2% (16-for-66). Loggins finished with 18 points and six rebounds to lead Clarkson and Esposito rounded out the top scorers for Clarkson with eight points to go along with six boards of her own. For RIT, Tenant finished with a double-double at 18 points and 12 rebounds, as well as four blocks and three steals. Ashlynn Palmitesso also had a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards.

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