Posted by Katie Peverada
The men's basketball team entered the Liberty League title with hopes of winning their third straight league title, but the Hobart Statesmen had other plans. The Statesmen rode a 58.7 percent shooting percentage in route to a 77-72 victory over the Thoroughbreds. Freshman Tanner Brooks led Skidmore with 22 points, and Aldin Medunjanin '16 added 21 of his own to go with eight assists. As a team, Skidmore went 24-of-50 shooting, and spotted Hobart an early eight-point lead. Skidmore took the lead back with a 13-4 run, but Hobart countered with an 11-2 run. Brooks was able to pull the score to 40-34 when he scored five of the final seven points before the end of the first half. Skidmore was able to tie the game and keep the score close throughout the second half, never trailing by more than five points. Sakhile Sithole '13 used a two-point play plus a foul shot to give the Thoroughbreds a one-point lead, but it would be their last of the game. Hobart's Stefan Thompson and Joe Gibbons combined to make the final six free throws to give the Statesmen the 71-67 win. Considering the Thoroughbreds began the season with eight new faces and had to replace last year's top five scorers, their final record of 15-11 is promising for next year.
The women's basketball team faced off against the St. Lawrence Saints for the right to play for the Liberty League title, but a 12-1 Saints' run in the last few minutes of the game secured their 58-44 victory. Dani DeGregory '16 led the Thoroughbred charge with 17 points, 15 coming in the second half, while Angela Botiba '15 added seven. Amber Holgate '16 and Molly McLaughlin '15 each had six. The Saints opened the game with seven straight points and never trailed during the game. The Thoroughbreds struggled from the floor, shooting 29.8 percent from the field and not scoring in the last 6:58 of the first half. Skidmore never gave up, though, as several times they pulled within reach. Three times in the final 10:11 they pulled within four points, but each time the Saints countered back with the next score. Jordyn Wartts '14 used a layup at the 10:11 mark to make it 35-31 in favor of St. Lawrence, but Cassie St. Hilaire came back with a three-pointer. With 7:48 remaining Skidmore made it 38-34. A layup by Molly Gile '13 with 6:43 remaining made it 40-36, but that was the closest the Thoroughbreds were able to get. Skidmore finishes the season with a record of 12-14 overall and 10-6 in league play.