Potsdam, N.Y. - Unable to overcome slow starts in each half, the Clarkson University Women's Basketball fell 77-48 to Skidmore College, Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium. 

The Knights move to 6-8 overall, 2-5 in conference and will have another home weekend, January 23rd and 24th, welcoming Ithaca and RIT. Skidmore improves to 4-9 overall, 2-4 in Liberty League action. 

Emma Chambers got Clarkson off to a good start with a driving layup for an early 2-0 lead but a stingy Skidmore press led to turnovers and a 12-0 scoring run up to the 6:03 mark for a double-digit deficit on the scoreboard. Fallon Griffin would stall the run with a layup at the 5:55 mark, breaking a near-four minute drought for the Knights. Maddy Polky would add another finish in the paint to bring the gap back to six points but a 7-3 run over the final four minutes of the quarter gave the Thoroughbreds a 19-9 lead. 

The Skidmore press continued to plague the Knights as a 9-0 run through the middle of the second saw them get up by as much as 16 with 5:48 left. Clarkson would manage to get back to within twelve on several occasions but continued pressure allowed the Thoroughbreds to keep the Knights at arms distance. Addie Kea knocked down a mid-range jumper with under a minute remaining to make it 38-26, but a Rachel Carpenter three made it 41-26 headed into the half. 

Skidmore continued to keep their foot on the gas pedal as the second half opened, racing out to a 7-0 start, quickly making it a 48-26 game. Bella Doyle and Elizabeth Aiossa chipped in two straight layups to get Clarkson back to within 17 but another 9-0 run from the visitors meant Skidmore would lead 57-31 with less than four minutes remaining. Griffin and Kate Campbell added a three and a layup but a three and two free throws from Carpenter and Melissa Severino put Skidmore up 62-36, headed into the final quarter. 

Two free throws from Doyle to open the fourth would get Clarkson back to within 24 with almost eight minutes remaining but that is the closest the score would get. Turnovers continued to play a major role in stalling momentum as Skidmore would outscore Clarkson 15-12 in the final stanza. 

The only lead for the Knights came in the opening minutes while Skidmore led by as much as 31 with two minutes remaining in the fourth. Skidmore held an advantage in bench points (26-17), assists (18-13) and points off turnovers (25-9). The 26 turnovers marked a season-high for the Knights. 

Doyle led Clarkson with 10 points while Polky added nine, Kea grabbed seven boards and dished out seven assists for the Knights. Madison Meyer tallied a game-high 21 points and eight steals for the Thoroughbreds.