February 19 , 2005

Stephanie Czajkowski

GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College first-year Stephanie Czajkowski (Bishop Ludden/Syracuse, N.Y.) scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Herons to a 58-46 win over Vassar College in women’s basketball action this evening. The victory earned the Herons their first regular season Liberty League title since 2000 and the right to host the league playoffs in Bristol Gym on Feb. 25-26.

Earning her 16th win, Head Coach Olympia Scott-Richardson set a new record for wins by a first-year William Smith basketball coach.

"This was definitely a goal for us," Scott-Richardson said. "My goal coming in as a coach was to establish a Division III powerhouse team that has an incomparable defensive presence and pushes the ball up the floor, and still has the presence to be able to play in the half court set. I think the players have really committed themselves to what my vision was early on and now we’re living that out."

The Herons (16-7, 11-3 LL) and Brewers traded baskets in the opening 20 minutes, as neither team was able to build more than a four-point lead. Featuring six ties and four lead changes, William Smith closed the half with a 10-5 run for a narrow 25-24 lead at the break.

Czajkowski and first-year Amanda Nann (Saratoga Catholic/Schuylerville, N.Y.) combined for 19 of the Herons' first-half points.

Vassar (6-18, 2-12 LL) had balanced scoring in the opening stanza, spreading 23 of the team's 24 points across its five starters.

William Smith jumped all over the Brewers in the second half, starting the frame with a 7-0 run to go ahead 32-24. Vassar battled back to within five but could not get any closer as the Herons put together a 17-5 run to take a 17 point lead at 50-33.

Playing stifling defense in the final 20 minutes, William Smith held the Brewers to just 26.7 percent shooting, while connecting on nearly 42 percent of their own shots from the field. The Herons also dominated the boards, outrebounding Vassar 49-35 for the game, including 19 offensive rebounds.

Nann had a career night for William Smith, posting her first double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 boards. Senior Ivy Parker (Corcoran/Syracuse, N.Y.) and first-year Marisa Vespa (Immaculate Heart/Watertown, N.Y.) chipped in eight points apiece.

Junior Meredith McGair (St. Mary Academy-Bay View/Cranston, R.I.) led all Vassar scorers with 13 points, while sophomore Rachel Cerlen (Milburn/Short Hills, N.J.) and junior Erin Harper (Kings Park/Kings Park, N.Y) both added 11 points.

The Herons will host fourth-seed Hamilton in the Liberty League playoffs on Feb. 25, at a time to be determined. St. Lawrence and Union will face off in the other semifinal. The winners will meet on Feb. 26, for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

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