Canton, NY - Once the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team's offense got going against SUNY Canton, it was difficult to stop, as the Golden Knights strong defensive effort early created numerous fastbreak opportunities in an 86-50 victory over the Kangaroos Sunday afternoon.

The Golden Knights improved to 2-1 on the season and will face crosstown rival Potsdam State at 6:00 pm on Tuesday when Clarkson opens up its home portion of the 2011-12 schedule. SUNY Canton dropped to 2-4.

Clarkson led by just a basket through the first six minutes of the contest, but the Knights rattled off 11-0 run in the next three minutes by jumping passing lanes and getting virtually every rebound. Clarkson would lead by double figures for the remainder of the game as the Knights converted better than 82 percent of their free throws (14-for-17) in the first 20 minutes with SUNY Canton finding itself in foul trouble in the early going.

The Knights had plenty of scoring options in the game, led by freshman Taliah Pounds (Watervliet, NY), who nearly posted her second straight double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds. Pounds shot 9-for-16 from the floor. Classmate Brooke Butkovsky (Monroe, CT) shot 5-for-6 from both the field and the free throw line for 15 points in her collegiate debut after missing the opening tournament last weekend. Leighann Tomita (Cerritos, CA) also contributed nine points for the Knights to go along with her four steals. Overall, Clarkson's freshmen class accounted for 47 of the team's 86 points.

Senior Chrissy Scanlon (Queensbury, NY) took just seven shots from the field, but made them count with 15 points. Classmate Carey Turner (Clifton Park, NY) shot 6-for-11 from the floor for 14 points, and junior Noelle Miller (Hamburg, NY) was the distributor for Clarkson, pitching in 10 assists along with her six points and five steals. Leading the way for SUNY Canton was Katilyn Myers, who had 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting.

Clarkson had a 42-22 edge in rebounds and turned the ball over 14 times while forcing SUNY Canton into 27 miscues, including 16 steals by the Knights. Clarkson's 86 points were the most in 68 games, dating back to a 90-point effort against D'Youville in the 2008-09 campaign, while the 36-point margin of victory was the most in 194 contests, the largest differential since an 81-35 thumping of Brooklyn College in the 2003-04 season.