Potsdam, NY – Despite scoring only 46 points in the game, the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team put three players in double-figures as the Golden Knights picked up their first conference victory of the season with a 46-37 win over Vassar on Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Golden Knights improved to 3-12 overall and 1-3 in the Liberty League, while the Brewers fell to 4-8 overall, remaining winless in league play at 0-4. Clarkson faces Rensselaer on Saturday, while Vassar travels to play St. Lawrence.
After falling behind early in the first half, the Golden Knights came back to tie, and then steadily pushed their lead to seven points on a handful of occasions, including at the final buzzer for the half. Clarkson’s edge on the boards proved to be the difference, as the Knights outrebounded Vassar 26-18 in the opening 20 minutes.
Freshman Katie Goldberg (Stowe, VT) led the Knights with nine points, shooting 4-for-8 from the field despite struggling from her normal spot, behind the 3-point line. Michelle Reddinger (Baldwinsville, NY) also added 7 points and 8 rebounds. Vassar’s key weapon, Emily Haeuser picked up two quick fouls and wasn’t much of a factor in the first half, as only Ashley Sherman and Amanda Pesco were able to reach three points in the half for the Brewers.
With the return of Haeuser for Vassar, the Brewers were able to narrow the gap quickly as the sophomore immediately changed the face of the game in the paint, scoring 14 of her 16 points in the second half. Unfortunately for the Brewers, Haeuser again struggled with fouls and earned her fifth late in the game, ending any chances of Vassar completing a comeback as Clarkson continued to use an inside-outside game to keep the Brewers defense guessing.
Reddinger finished with her third double-double of the season, recording a career-high 15 rebounds to go along with 10 points. Goldberg finished with a team-high 11 points, as did classmate Sierra Noles (Averill Park, NY). Rachel Whitermore (Holliston, MA) also recorded 11 rebounds, and Reddinger added in five blocks.
Haeuser finished with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Chelsea Katzenberg also scored nine points to go along with five rebounds for Vassar.
