Averill Park grad Donnelly earns All-America selection
By Saratogian/Record staff WBCA All-American this season, alongside RIT’s Cori Okada.
Donnelly led the league in scoring at 19.3 points and 2.4 steals per game, finishing second in rebounds (9.1 rpg) and third in shooting percentage (.465). Nationally, Donnelly is fourth in the country with 227 field goals made and 17th in the nation with 540 total points. She’s scored in double figures in every game this season, finishing her career with 67 consecutive double-digit performances over three seasons. She tallied 13 double-doubles, bringing her career total to 50, and has scored 20 or more points 13 times this season, including a seasonhigh 30 points against RPI on Jan. 27.
Donnelly set the Skidmore all-time scoring record back on Jan. 26 against Union and tallied her 1,000th career rebound in the Liberty League Semifinal game against Vassar. The Wynantskill, N.Y. native finishes a stellar Skidmore career with 1,823 career points and 1,032 rebounds (third all-time), becoming the first Skidmore player ever with at least 1,600 points and 1,000 rebounds.
“Her growth as an individual from her first year to her senior year has been special to watch and her ability to lead by her actions has been incredible to be around,” added Bennett. “Our team and college was extremely lucky to have Kelly Donnelly choose Skidmore and we appreciate her for that. She will go down as one of the finest studentathletes in women’s basketball here at Skidmore. An amazing talent and an amazing person that I am extremely proud to say I’ve been able to coach, mentor and be around while watching her have a very special career. Simply put, ‘one of the best.’”
Skidmore (18-10) won the Liberty League crown in 2017-18 and earned its second-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Thoroughbreds won both the regular season and tournament crown in the same season for the first time in program history. Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® honoree, is the 24th all-time leading scorer and 16th all-time rebounder in Golden Knights men’s basketball history. He recorded 1,166 points and 556 boards throughout his four years in a Saint Rose uniform.
Lipinski filled up the box score on a regular basis throughout the 201718 season. He is currently third in the NE10 in blocks (1.4), 12th in rebounding (6.6) and field goal percentage (.515), and 21st in scoring (13.9). He also recorded five “double-doubles” and was in double-figures scoring throughout 23 of the team’s 31 games while leading the Golden Knights (2110) to their second consecutive NCAA Championship Tournament berth and 20plus win campaign. is the best pick following Siena men taking fifth as a team at the MAAC Indoor Championship. Monmouth led the field and was selected to repeat with seven of eight first-place votes. Rider was picked second with one first-place vote. Manhattan (49) and Iona (40) rounded out the topfour.
There was a three-way tie for fifth in the poll as Siena, Marist and Canisius all received 22 points. Saint Peter’s was picked last in the poll receiving 14 points.
The women were picked seventh for the secondstraight season ahead of Canisius (26), Niagara (19) and Saint Peter’s (18). The Hawks, who are four-time defending MAAC Champions have been selected as the preseason favorite with nine of the 10 first-place votes.
Rider was selected second, while Quinnipiac rounded out the top three and grabbed one firstplace vote. Manhattan (73), Marist (56) and Iona (55) all fell ahead of the Saints in the poll.
Last season, both the men and women finished in seventh place at the MAAC Outdoor Championship. Sarah Forman took the 1500m title at the meet to become Siena’s first outdoor title winner. Evans Kibet and Luciano Fiore took the silver and bronze in the 800m, respectively. Travis Fairlee grabbed fifth place in the 1500m on the men’s side.
For the third consecutive year, the 2018 MAAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship will be hosted by Rider in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Siena will head to their first meet of the season at the Monmouth Season Opener in West Long Branch, New Jersey on Saturday, March 24.