Potsdam, NY – Despite playing with only four players for a stretch of 46 seconds late in the second half, the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team was able to hold on for a 71-60 win over crosstown rival Potsdam State in a non-league game Tuesday night at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Golden Knights ended the non-league schedule with a mark of 4-7 and open Liberty League play this weekend when they host Union and Skidmore. Potsdam State fell to 1-10 on the season.
Decimated by significant injuries, the Golden Knights raced out to a double-digit advantage in the opening 10 minutes of the contest with a 19-8 lead at the 8:50 mark. Junior forward Mickala Henson (Waverly, NY) went out with an ankle injury in the first three minutes, dropping the Knights active roster to just five players. Despite the limited players, the Golden Knights continued to extend their lead to 14 points just two minutes later thanks to some solid shooting from both the perimeter and on the inside. Potsdam was able to reduce the lead to 12 at the half with a 5-0 run to make the score 32-20 at the break.
Freshman Monica Thomas (Sandwich, MA) led the Clarkson first-half charge with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting to go along with three assists. Sarah Wesner (Sidney, NY) added eight points and six rebounds and freshman Kelly Fink (Verona, NY) contributed eight rebounds in 17 minutes.
In the second half, the Golden Knights received an initial scare when Potsdam State narrowed the lead to seven in the opening minutes. However, Clarkson was able to weather the storm on numerous occasions, pushing their lead back to double figures with timely 3-point field goals by junior guard Vanessa Westcott (Parish, NY). Westcott fouled out at 3:48, causing the Knights to play with just four players for 46 seconds before Henson came back in to the game on a gimpy ankle that resigned her to Clarkson’s offensive end. The strategy somehow worked as Clarkson continued to get offensive rebounds and make free throws down the stretch.
Senior guard Erika Fritjofson (East Barre, VT) tied a career-high with 21 points, most of which came late in the game on free throws as the Bears desperately tried to get back into the game. Fritjofson became the first Clarkson player to record back-to-back 20-plus point games since Linda Bondellio late in the 2002-03 season. Westcott scored 16 points while Wesner and Thomas each added 13 points. Wesner also added 12 rebounds while Fink recorded a game-high 15 boards.
For the Bears, Amy Rich scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 21 minutes for Potsdam State. Maureen Curley and Kelsey Shoen also added 11 points for the Bears.
On a sad note, Clarkson University observed a moment of silence for 2004 Clarkson Athletic Hall of Fame honoree, Beth Bacon-Williams, who passed away just a few days ago. Bacon-Williams was the Golden Knights’ all-time leader in assists and was named a Kodak All-America and GTE Academic All-America in 1989, the same year she captained Clarkson to the NCAA Final Four.
