Schenectady, NY - Senior Lauren Pluchino (Liverpool, NY) scored 14 of her team-high 16 points in the second half, but the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team came up short against Union College, falling 57-40 in Liberty League action Friday night.

The Golden Knights fell to 5-18 overall and 2-11 in the Liberty League, while Union moved to 14-7 and 9-4, clinching a spot in the conference playoffs. Clarkson closes out the regular season against Skidmore College on Saturday.

Clarkson started off well against the Dutchwomen, holding the lead for much of the first seven minutes of the game on Friday. However, a 20-2 run over a 12-minute span by Union pushed the Knights back to a 16-point deficit. Pluchino hit a run of hot shooting in the second half, scoring eight of Clarkson's 10 points in a 10-0 run to get the Knights back to within six (33-27) with 14:32 remaining in the contest. Union once again responded with 12-3 run, with Clarkson's only points coming on another Pluchino 3-pointer. From that point on, the Dutchwomen held more than double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game to hold on for the victory.

Pluchino finished with 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting with six rebounds. Junior Chrissy Scanlon (Queensbury, NY) added in seven points and nine boards. Overall, Clarkson shot 15-for-50 from the field (30.0%) and just 3-for-15 (20.0%) from beyond the 3-point arc. The Dutchwomen weren't much better, but had a 43-26 rebounding edge with 16 offensive rebounds. Lauren McCormick led the way with 16 points and eight rebounds, shooting 8-for-9 from the free throw line. Leah Pepe contributed 12 points, making four 3-pointers.