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Clarkson University Athletics

2021-22 CU Women's Basketball Preview

Women's Basketball | 11/7/2021 11:36:00 AM

Many teams will have different looks after missing last season, but while the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team did put together an 11-game schedule in 2020-21, the Golden Knights will also have a largely new roster as the team brings in 10 newcomers to go along with its four letter winners for the 2021-22 season.

One of the few teams in the region to play last season, the Green and Gold put together a 6-5 record, which included seven games against Route 11 rival St. Lawrence University. Most of the minutes from a year ago came from the robust senior class, so the Golden Knights will have five new starters and a different lineup in 2021-22.

2021-22 Clarkson University Women's Basketball Roster
2021-22 Clarkson University Women's Basketball Schedule

Returning for Clarkson are a pair of post players, an athletic wing, and a point guard. Seniors Lauren Bell and Maddie Pratt have spent multiple seasons with the Knights, providing a presence down low. Bell led the team in field goal percentage at 51.3% and averaged 4.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest. Pratt has consistently given the Knights 12 to 14 minutes per game over her three seasons off the bench and a year ago contributed 3.7 points and 2.5 boards per contest. Junior point guard Mariah Benavides started as a freshman and still played more than 20 minutes per game in her sophomore season, averaging 5.7 points and 1.6 assists per game. Elaina Porter also played roughly 15 minutes per game a year ago, down two minutes per game from her freshman season, but her averages per game increased to 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest.

Understanding full well the massive turnover that the Golden Knights would endure, head coach Maureen Webster was busy in terms of recruiting, bringing in eight freshmen players. At least one, and probably two, will be in the starting lineup led by guards Lauryn Withrow and Ruthie Nolan, as the pair both stand 5-8 or taller and resemble the versatile athletic athletes that the Golden Knights have seen excel in recent seasons. Shooting guards and point guards Cassidy Dumont, Likhita Chanda, Veronica Tache, Kailey Johnson, and Grace Towler round out the rest of the backcourt recruits, while Raine Tweedy will see plenty of minutes on the interior as post player who can also shoot from the outside. Joining the large group of first-years are senior Emma Griffin and sophomore Ava Pushor. Griffin, a 5-9 guard, and Pushor, a 6-0 forward who also plays on the Knights' soccer team as a goalkeeper, will provide depth and some added leadership as student-athletes who understand the rigors of balancing athletics and academics.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Lauren Bell: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#3 Mariah Benavides: G; 5' 1"; Junior

#15 Elaina Porter: F; 5' 9"; Junior

#10 Maddie Pratt: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#2 Cassidy Dumont: G; 5' 5"; Freshman

#4 Lauryn Withrow: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#5 Likhita Chanda: G; 5' 5"; Freshman

#13 Raine Tweedy: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

#14 Ruthie Nolan: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

#20 Emma Griffin: G; 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#21 Lauren Bell
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#3 Mariah Benavides
: 5' 1"; Junior
: G

#15 Elaina Porter
: 5' 9"; Junior
: F

#10 Maddie Pratt
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#2 Cassidy Dumont
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: G

#4 Lauryn Withrow
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#5 Likhita Chanda
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: G

#13 Raine Tweedy
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F

#14 Ruthie Nolan
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G

#20 Emma Griffin
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G