CU Women's Hoops Preview - vs. St. Lawrence (2/18)

Three spots are still open in the Liberty League playoff race, and the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team is still vying for one of the top four spots entering the final week of the season. The Golden Knights will look to improve their position on Wednesday when they face St. Lawrence University at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights enter the week with a record of 17-6 overall and 10-4 in the Liberty League, the most wins the team has ever achieved in the Liberty League and their most victories in a season in nearly a quarter century. St. Lawrence is 18-5 overall and 12-2 in the conference, the only team that has secured a spot in the conference playoffs thus far, as 2014-15 is a rare season in which a team that finishes 11-5 in the league standings could be on the outside looking in.

St. Lawrence handled Clarkson in the first meeting with a 62-49 win, but it is unlikely that the Knights will miss 60 shots from the floor again. However, it is also unlikely that Clarkson will gain 24 offensive rebounds and force the Saints into 26 turnovers, so Wednesday's game could have widely different results from the first match up of the season between the two teams.

Clarkson still leads the conference in several offensive categories, including scoring (72.3 ppg), field goal percentage (40.8%), and 3-point field goal percentage (31.9%) while ranking second in scoring margin (+9.7 ppg) and third in free throw shooting (70.0%). Clarkson also leads the league in steals (11.1 spg) and is forcing teams to commit 20 turnovers per game, the highest rate in the conference. Senior Cara Manfredi passed the 1000-point mark in her last game and is averaging 17.1 points per contest, the second best figures in the league, largely on her success from beyond the 3-point arc (64 3-pointers made). Junior Ashley Loggins ranks in the top four in the league in scoring (16.0 ppg, fourth), rebounding (10.3 rpg, third), field goal percentage (42.6%, second) and steals (3.3 spg). Sophomore Stephanie Grobe (10.7 ppg) and freshman Devin Sorell (8.1 ppg) have also provided plenty of offense for the Knights.

St. Lawrence's offense is second only to Clarkson's this year, ranking a spot behind the Knights in scoring (69.5 ppg), field goal percentage (39.0%) and 3-point shooting (30.7%) with a league-leading 154 makes. The Saints also rank first in assists (15.4 apg) and scoring margin (+11.7 ppg) and are second in free throw shooting (76.2%). Kara McDuffee had an impressive game against the Knights in the first meeting with 25 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. She is averaging 14.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this year, ranking second in the league in free throws (91) and first in percentage (80.5%). Allison Cady is the second option for the Saints, averaging 11.6 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Lauren Quattrocchi ranks in the top three in the conference in assists (4.1 apg) and steals (2.0 spg).

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Players Mentioned

#21 Stephanie Grobe: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

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

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

#24 Devin Sorell: G; 5' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#21 Stephanie Grobe
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

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

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

#24 Devin Sorell
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: G