February 17, 2006

Steph Czajkowski

Seraphine Hamilton

Pria Young

POTSDAM, N.Y.—The William Smith basketball team scored a season-high 83 points in a dominating win over Clarkson University that clinched the Liberty League regular season title tonight. The Herons held the Golden Knights to just 12 field goals, a .250 shooting percentage (both lows for a William Smith opponent this season), and 48 points.

The Herons (19-4, 12-1) led from start to finish, using an 18-3 first half run to balloon an 11-point lead into a 26-point chasm. Sophomore forward Stephanie Czajkowski (Bishop Ludden/Syracuse, N.Y.) scored six of her team-high 19 points during the surge. She also shared top honors in the rebounding column with seven.
William Smith took a 43-19 lead into the locker room at halftime.

After the break, the Herons never let their lead dip below 23 points, en route to the 35-point win, William Smith’s most lopsided victory of the season.

The Herons shot 52.7 percent from the floor in the contest, including 60 percent (15-25) in the second half. William Smith also enjoyed a comfortable margin on the glass, outrebounding their host 46-24.

Senior guard Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.) added 10 points, seven rebounds, and four steals to the winning effort, while senior forward Seraphine Hamilton (The Peddie School/Trenton, N.J.) chipped in 10 points as well.

Senior Erika Fritjofson (East Barre, Vt.) led Clarkson (5-19, 1-12) with 22 points.

The win ensures the Herons will be the top seed and host the Liberty League Tournament, Feb. 24-25. William Smith could still finish with the same conference record as St. Lawrence (17-7, 11-2), but the Herons win on the third tie-breaker, record against common non-conference opponents. William Smith is 1-1 against Ithaca and Rochester, while the Saints lost to both the Bombers and the Yellowjackets.

William Smith, which has won nine in a row, will close out the regular season on Feb. 18 at St. Lawrence. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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