TROY, N.Y. - Skidmore College scored 29 of the game's first 32 points and the Thoroughbreds were never challenged from that point on in defeating the the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team, 64-41, in a game between the two teams atop the Liberty League standings. Skidmore takes sole possession the top spot with a 4-0 conference mark (8-5 overall), while RPI falls to second place at 3-1. The Engineers are 7-6 overall.

The Thoroughbreds scored the first 13 points of the game, holding Rensselaer scoreless until 10:06 had elapsed on the clock. Five different players scored in that stretch for the visitors with freshman Kelly Donnelly (Wynantskill, NY / Averill Park) getting the game's first four points. After an Amanda Lynch (Middletown, NY / John S. Burke) free throw put the Engineers on the scoreboard, Skidmore scored the next seven points, five from Amber Holgate (Easton, MA / St. Andrew's), for a 20-1 advantage with 8:58 left in the first half. RPI's first field goal came from Lynch 1:28 later, but the Thoroughbreds went on another run, this one of six points for the 26-point advantage with 5:40 left in the first frame.

The Thoroughbreds led 36-11at halftime by shooting 46.9% from the field (15 of 32) in the first 20 minutes, while holding Rensselaer to 11.4% (4 of 35). Eight different players had points for Skidmore at the break, led by Donnelly's eight points. She also had six rebounds. Holgate had seven points at halftime, while Molly McLaughlin (Westwood, MA / Westwood) had five points, five assists, two rebounds and a steal. Freshman Shaina Iton (Peekskill, NY / Peekskill) had four points, three rebounds, three blocks and a steal for RPI in the first half.

Though the second half was much like the first, the Engineers outscored Skidmore, 30-28. 

Sophomore Migle Vilunaite (Vilinius, Lithuania / Holderness School) paced Skidmore with 12 points, along with 12 rebounds in only 16 minutes. Senior Angela Botiba (Douala, Cameroon / Stoneleigh Burnham) added 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, alogn with three blocks and an assist, while Donnelly, a guard, had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Iton led RPI in both points with 12 and rebounds with 10. She also had four blocks and two steals. Lynch finished with seven points and five rebounds for RPI, which plays on Tuesday at Bard College (6pm). Skidmore travels to Clarkson University on Tuesday night (6pm). Both games are Liberty League contests.