Potsdam, NY – Jessica Laing shot 9-for-13 from the free throw line for a game-high 19 points to go along with nine rebounds as 16th-ranked Cortland State held on for a slight 66-59 victory over the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team Friday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Golden Knights dropped to 2-8 overall with their fourth straight loss while Cortland remained unbeaten at 7-0. Clarkson closes out the non-league schedule next weekend at Elmira College
Every time that it appeared as if the Red Dragons would pull away by displaying the ability that has catapulted them to 16th in the country, Clarkson was able to cut the Cortland advantage with timely 3-pointers. Freshman Katie Goldberg (Stowe, VT) made a pair of long 3-point field goals, but those were quickly counteracted by the Red Dragons, who did push their lead to 10 points with just under eight minutes to go. A 6-0 run and some basket trading in the final minutes put the deficit at four points at the half for Clarkson.
Jessica Laing and Sara Cavanaugh each scored eight points to lead the Red Dragons, as Laing produced her points in just 10 minutes because of foul trouble. Rachel Whitermore (Holliston, MA) was Clarkson’s top performer with 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
The second half started with a quick run from Cortland, but again the Knights held tough and actually took the lead midway through the half at 46-45, and then extending their lead to three with 7:37 remaining. Cortland, however, went to a solid inside-outside game that alternated with lay ups from Jessica Laing and a flurry of 3-point field goals from all around the arc to end the game with a 21-11 run.
Along with Laing’s 19, Cortland’s Maggie Byrne scored 13 points and Cavanaugh added in 12 points and 6 assists.
Goldberg led the Knights with 14 points, making four 3-point field goals in the game. Whitermore added 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Alicia Chace (Cortland, NY) contributed 10 points. Michelle Reddinger (Baldwinsville, NY) also produced 8 points and 11 rebounds for Clarkson.
