Geneva, N.Y. - Allowing just 20 points in the first half, the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team used a strong defensive team effort, securing a 62-52 win at William Smith, Saturday afternoon.
Clarkson improves to 10-13 overall, 6-10 in the Liberty League with one final regular season weekend series remaining. William Smith falls to 1-20 overall, 1-15 in league play. The Knights host Union and RPI next Friday and Saturday at Alumni Gymnasium.
Shooting troubles for both teams characterized the opening several minutes of the game as Clarkson would answer the first four points from the Herons with an Alexis Kress layup that broke a 0-7 shooting start for the Knights, just under five minutes in. Down one after the first media break of the game, Maddy Polky would connect with a straight-on three and Kress added two free throws to make it 8-4. Addie Kea accounted for the final four Golden Knights points of the quarter but a 5-4 final four minutes from the Herons meant the Clarkson lead would be just 12-9 after one.
The hosts would momentarily tie things up at 14 but an 11-2 run over the next three minutes, sparked by four points from Fallon Griffin, put Clarkson in command 25-16, with 4:01 left in the half. That lead would grow to 10 following a three from Griffin and then 11 as the junior would answer a William Smith layup with another long-range hit. Kress would score the only points of the final 90 seconds of the half with a driving finish around the bucket to make it 33-20 at the half.
Despite a rough start, Clarkson would finish the half shooting 46% from the field and 33% from deep while holding the hosts to marks of 25% and 20% in those same categories. Both teams would turn the ball over nine times over the opening 20 minutes but the Golden Knights were much more effective in capitalizing on gained possessions with 12 points off turnovers to just four from the Herons.
Another slow start to the second half would see both teams combine for just three points over the opening five minutes on 1-11 shooting. Eiley Hubler managed to break a three minute scoring drought for the Herons to bring them back to within nine at the 4:45 mark with Clarkson still looking for their first field goal of the third. Three free throws from Kea accounted for the only Clarkson scoring until 3:40 when Kea connected on a mid-range jumper to keep the Knights up 11. Kea would add two more layups over the final minute, bringing her total to nine of the team's 10 points of the quarter, as Clarkson would stay up 43-32 with one quarter remaining.
Clarkson got up by as much as 14 just under two minutes into the fourth with Griffin and Kea combining for the quick start. A late push from the Herons saw them get back to within eight with just 2:04 remaining and then six with just over 30 seconds remaining following a three from McKenzie Mandyck. A 6-6 free throw shooting mark down the stretch from Kea and Griffin would keep the Golden Knight lead intact for the 62-52 final.
Clarkson would finish 43% from the field and rely on a 28-18 points in the paint margin over the Herons to offset a 28% mark from behind the arc. William Smith struggled to cope shooting-wise through the contest, ending with a 27% mark from the field and 16% mark from three point range. An edge in bench points (20-11) and second chance points (12-2) as well as a 32-29 scoring margin in the second half for the Herons would not be enough to reverse the halftime deficit.
Kea and Griffin would again combine to lead the Knights with 25 and 20 points, respectively. Kea would add four assists while Griffin and Kate Campbell both pulled down six rebounds. Emma Chambers finished with seven boards, two assists, two steals and a block in the effort. The 20 points from the duo marks the first time in 28 games that two players for Clarkson scored 20 or more points. The last time it had happened was February 7th, 2025 when Bella Doyle and Cassidy Dumont registered 21 and 23, respectively, against William Smith.
Mandyck, Ava Lobazzo and Amelia McCulley all finished in double-figures with 11, 10 and 10 points each. Mandyck also grabbed seven rebounds along with Jojo Sulmasy for the Herons.
