February 18 , 2005

Marisa Vespa

GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team used a 19-0 run midway through the second half to secure a spot in the Liberty League Tournament with a 57-40 victory over Rensselaer in Bristol Gym this evening. First-year guard Marisa Vespa (Immaculate Heart/Watertown, N.Y.) led the Herons with an all around effort of 15 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals.

William Smith came out of the gates cold, going just 2-of-19 from the field in the opening 11:11 and committing six turnovers. The Red Hawks were not much better, building just a 16-4 lead despite the Herons’ poor shooting. Sophomore forward Kristin Baranowski (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.) paced RPI during the stretch with eight points.

Down 16-4 with 7:49 left in the opening stanza, first-year Stephanie Czajkowski (Bishop Ludden/Syracuse, N.Y.) hit a jumper that sparked a 13-0 run that spanned 2:23.

The Red Hawks answered with a 6-2 run in the final three minutes to head into the locker room up by three points, 22-19.

The Herons replaced their cold touch with a scorching hand in the second half, making 50 percent of their shots, including hitting an outstanding 4-of-5 from behind the three-point line.

William Smith junior Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.) opened the second frame with a trifecta to tie the game, 22-22. The two teams traded leads until the 10:09 mark when senior Ivy Parker (Corcoran/Syracuse, N.Y.) hit a three to start a 19-0 run that put the Herons ahead 51-35 with just 2:41 left to play.

Holding the Red Hawks scoreless for that stretch of more than eight minutes, William Smith was never let up on its way to the 17-point victory. The Herons held RPI to just 31.5 percent shooting (17-of-54) for the game, including 0-for5 from three point range in the second half.

Parker chipped in 13 points for William Smith, while Young chipped in 10 and made four steals.

Czajkowski and first-year Kristen Suatoni (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.) led William Smith on the boards with seven apiece.

Rensselaer’s Baranowski led all scorers with 16 points and senior Kaitlyn Saunders (Northwest Catholic/Windsor, Conn.) contributed 13 points. Senior Amy Morin (Coventry/Coventry, R.I.) finished the evening with a game-high 10 rebounds and six assists.

The Herons close out the regular season tomorrow, Feb. 19, hosting Vassar College at 2 p.m., in Bristol Gym. To finish atop the league standings and earn the right to host the Liberty League playoffs, William Smith must beat Vassar, while Hamilton needs to score a win over Rensselaer tomorrow.

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