Video Highlights

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Sophomore Amber Raisner scored 13 of Union College's final 15 points on the way to a career-high 24 points as the Dutchwomen women's basketball team escaped Viniar Athletic Center with a 61-57 victory over Skidmore College in Liberty League action on Friday night.
 
Raisner had a huge effort for Union (9-10, 6-7 Liberty League), almost singlehandedly carrying Union in the fourth quarter. For the game, the sophomore hit 8-of-13 shots from the field and also lead the team with eight rebounds and three steals. Seniors Joana Santos and Elly Vaughan both chipped in offensively as well: Vaughan added 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks; while Santos scored 13 points and dished out three assists.
 
With the win, Union remains in seventh place in the Liberty League standings, one game back of Rochester Institute of Technology for the sixth and final postseason berth.
 
The first quarter was all Dutchwomen, as Union kept Skidmore (4-16, 2-11 Liberty League) off the scoreboard the first 8:02 of the game on the way to a 15-2 lead. Santos outscored the Thoroughbreds by herself with a three-pointer and a layup as part of a game-opening 9-0 run, while sophomore Laura Vinton also outscored the opponents with a pair of baskets. For the quarter, Union limited Skidmore to 1-of-11 (9.1 percent) shooting while forcing seven turnovers.
 
The Thoroughbreds got back into the game in the second stanza, doubling up Union by a 16-8 margin to get back within five at the half. Ten straight points to start the stanza made it a 15-11 game with 4:04 on the clock, before a bucket by freshman Megan Lee and back-to-back buckets by Vaughan increased the lead back to 10. A 7-2 run by Skidmore put Union up 23-18 at the half.
 
The home team outscored the visitors 14-5 over the first five minutes of the third quarter, with a Vaughan layup making the score 37-23 with 5:18 on the clock. An 11-3 run got Skidmore back in the game before Union rattled off the final six points to take a 46-34 lead into the final frame.
 
A three-pointer and layup by Raisner gave Union its largest lead of the game at 52-37 just 100 seconds into the fourth, but Skidmore came back with a 13-1 run over the next 5:06 to make it a one-possession game with 2:40 left. Raisner hit a big shot on the next possession to increase the lead, and the sophomore then sealed the game with six free throws the rest of the way. Raisner was the only Dutchwoman to hit a field goal in the fourth quarter.
 
Union finished the evening shooting 41.5 percent (22 of 53) from the field, despite hitting just 3-of-19 shots from long range. Skidmore finished shooting 23-of-62 (37.1 percent) from the field.
 
Union will play its final regular-season home game of the season tomorrow, when the team honors its four seniors with Senior Day before a 2 p.m. tipoff against Ithaca College.