February 12 , 2005

GENEVA, N.Y.—Both the William Smith College and St. Lawrence University offenses were held to season-lows against Division III opponents, but it was the Saints who posted the Liberty League basketball victory, 42-35. A very physical contest from start to finish, neither team had a player reach double digits in scoring.

The Herons (13-7, 8-3 Liberty) grabbed an 8-7 lead on a three-point play by first-year guard Marisa Vespa (Immaculate Heart/Watertown, N.Y.) with 15:23 remaining in the first half. It proved to be William Smith’s final advantage of the contest.

The Saints (13-8, 9-3) responded with a 7-0 run, capped by a layup by junior forward Nora Curley (Madrid-Waddington/Madrid, N.Y.). She finished with a game-high nine points off the bench.

St. Lawrence held a 26-22 halftime lead.

In the second half, William Smith never let their deficit climb above nine points, but every time the Herons climbed within a basket, the Saints came up with a retort. William Smith closed to 33-30 with 6:21 remaining, but a 5-0 SLU run foiled the push and the Saints held on for the win.

Senior guard Tara Brisson (Bishop Grimes/Liverpool, N.Y.), sophomore guard Paula Foote (Sidney/Sidney, N.Y.), and Vespa recorded seven-point efforts to pace William Smith.

Senior forward Meredith Pridgen (Hanover/Hanover, N.H.) helped the visitors to a 49-44 rebounding edge with a season-high 16 rebounds.

St. Lawrence’s win, coupled with Union’s 73-68 loss at Rensselaer, creates a four-way tie in the loss column between the Herons, the Saints, the Dutchwomen, and the Red Hawks. William Smith and Rensselaer sit one half game back in the win column.

The Herons return to action at 6 p.m., on Feb. 15, when they travel to Hamilton College for another Liberty League contest. The Continentals (13-8, 7-4) sit one-game behind the conference front-runners and hold a 60-53 win over the Herons on Jan. 25.

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