WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DOWNS SKIDMORE, 56-48

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's basketball team downed Skidmore College, 56-48, Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium. The Saints held the Thoroughbreds to just a 24.6% shooting percentage on the game to improve to 3-2 on the year while the loss drops Skidmore to 3-2.

The Thoroughbreds jumped out to an early 7-0 lead following a free throw by senior guard Amber Holgate (Easton, Mass.) but the Saints responded with a 16-0 run over the next 10 minutes of play to take control of the action for good fueled by six points from senior forward Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.). A pair of free throws by freshman center Mary McCarthy (Scituate, Mass.) put the Saints up for good late in the first quarter as the hosts led 8-7 at the first break.

Skidmore freshman forward Minja Ranisavljevic (Belgrade, Serbia) stopped the 16-0 run with a pair of free-throws with just under seven minutes to play in the half to cut the lead to 16-9 and on the next possession, Holgate drained a three to pull the visitors to four at 16-12 but it would be the closest they would come the rest of the action. The Saints mounted a 13-0 run during the middle action of the quarter to pull ahead 29-12 before Holgate closed the half with two free throws and a jumper to account for a 29-16 halftime score.

A strong defensive effort in the third quarter opened up the game for the hosts, holding Skidmore to just nine points in the period. Emmanuel freshman guard Madison McLaughlin (Westerly, R.I.) drained a deep three from the top of the key with 1:31 to play in the third to put EC ahead 45-23 for their largest lead of the action.

The Thoroughbreds made some noise in the final period, outscoring Emmanuel 23-11 in the quarter but it was not enough to come-from-behind as the Saints held on for the 56-48 win.

Skidmore sophomore guard Kelly Donnelly (Wynantskill, N.Y.) led all scorers with 17 points and collected a game-high 17 rebounds for the double-double. Holgate chipped in with 11 points off the bench.

Higgins paced the Saints with a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds while McCarthy scored a season-high 11 points in the win.

The win was also the 750^th career victory for Emmanuel College Head Coach Andy Yosinoff. He becomes just the 15^th NCAA Women's Basketball coach to hit the milestone.

Emmanuel returns to action on Tuesday, November 24 when they host Brandeis University at 5:00 PM while the Thoroughbreds head to Hamilton College on Monday, November 23 for a 6:00 PM tip.