SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Union College women's basketball team outscored Skidmore College in all four quarters on the way to a 58-46 victory over the Thoroughbreds in a Liberty League matchup at the Williamson Sports Center on Friday night.
 
Senior Nicole Conley single-handedly outscored the home team in the decisive fourth quarter, finishing with a game-high 14 points. Freshmen Anna Metcalf and Amber Raisner both played big roles in the win as well for Union (10-4, 5-3 Liberty League), as Metcalf chipped in 11 points and six rebounds while Raisner added nine points and five boards.
 
Neither team led by more than three points during an evenly contested first 20 minutes of action, which featured five ties and seven lead changes. The Dutchwomen asserted themselves in the paint against the Thoroughbreds, hauling in 27 rebounds in 20 minutes; Union's 13 offensive boards were as many as Skidmore (5-12, 4-6 Liberty League) had total boards in the half.
 
Union closed both quarters well to take the lead after each of the first two frames. A layup from freshman Laura Vinton and three points from Conley put the visitors up 11-8 after one quarter, while a 6-0 run – featuring two points each from Conley, Metcalf and sophomore Corina Lindsay – gave the team a 26-22 lead at the half.
 
Skidmore tied the game twice in the third quarter, but Union's freshmen made some big plays late in the third to keep the visitors' lead into the final frame. Metcalf and Raisner hit back-to-back buckets to put Union up 39-35, while another Raisner layup was followed by a three from junior Joana Santos to give the Dutchwomen a 44-38 lead headed to the fourth.
 
The Dutchwomen started the fourth quarter strongly, outscoring Skidmore 8-2 over the first 3:28. Conley had five points and Metcalf added a three-pointer during the run, which put Union up 52-40 with 6:32 remaining. The home team got no closer than eight the rest of the way.
 
Union finished the game shooting 41.8 percent (23 of 55) from the field and posted a decisive 43-30 edge on the glass, leading to a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points.
 
The Dutchwomen will finish off the weekend tomorrow with a tough matchup at first-place Ithaca College beginning at 2 p.m.