CU Women's Basketball Preview - at Union/RPI (2/13-14)

Stephanie Grobe is one of three players averaging better than 10 points per game. - Photo by Sean Shea

This is a pivotal weekend for several teams in the Liberty League, and three of them will be in action when the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team travels to face Union College and Rensselaer on Friday and Saturday.

The Golden Knights currently sit in third place in the Liberty League, just one game out of a first-place tie, at 16-5 overall and 9-3 in conference games. Union, Friday night's opponent, is 13-8 overall and 7-5 in the Liberty League and in fifth place, while RPI, the Saturday afternoon opponent, is a game behind the Knights in fourth place at 12-9 overall and 8-4 in the conference.

Clarkson has won four straight games and has posted the most victories in a season since the 1991-92 season. That success usually comes from a strong offense that leads the Liberty League in scoring at 73.1 points pergame, with the team topping 70 points 15 times this year. Clarkson also leads the conference in field goal percentage (43.1%) and 3-point field goal percentage (33.3%), but the Knights' defense has also shown up by creating a turnover margin of 5.2 tpg (first in the Liberty League) thanks to 11.2 steals per game (first in the Liberty League). Clarkson's offensive output is the highest for the program since the 1989-90 season (73.65 ppg), thanks in large part to Cara Manfredi and Ashley Loggins. The duo has combined to score nearly 34 points per contest, constituting 46.3% of the team's points. Manfredi is second in the conference in scoring average (17.4 ppg) and leads the league by a large margin in 3-pointers made (62), while Loggins is third in the league in scoring (16.4 ppg), third in rebounding (10.4 rpg) and first in steals (3.4 spg).

Clarkson defeated Union the first time around (81-69), the first time the Knights have beaten the Dutchwomen since the 1999-00 season, ending a 30-game streak. The 81 points allowed by the Dutchwomen were the most they've given up all season long, and Union leads the conference in scoring defense (54.2 ppg). There is no true go-to scorer for Union as no player averages more than 12 points, but four score better than 8.5 ppg. Jenni Barra averages 11.6 points per game to lead the team, while Cailin Schmeer isn't far behind at 11.2 ppg. Kate Thompson has posted solid all-around numbers with 9.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, while Natalie Leone is close with 8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest.

The Engineers provided Clarkson with its lowest offensive output of the season back in mid-January, defeating the Knights 62-47. RPI is third in the conference in points allowed per game (57.8 ppg) and is second in the league in field goal defense (34.1%), while being incredibly stinfy on long-range shots (23.0% 3-point defense). Though Rensselaer allows only 57.8 points per contest, the team actually scores less than that with two players combining to score 52.7% of its points. Amanda Lynch (15.5 ppg) and Ashley Clough (14.8 ppg) rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in scoring in the Liberty League. The duo also averages better than 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists each, while Shaina Iton is averaging 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Ashley Loggins: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#13 Cara Manfredi: G; 5' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#11 Ashley Loggins
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#13 Cara Manfredi
: 5' 6"; Senior
: G

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#11 Ashley Loggins

#13 Cara Manfredi

Players Mentioned

#11 Ashley Loggins

#13 Cara Manfredi