January 21, 2005

Tara Brisson

GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back on its way to a 54-26 victory over Skidmore College in Liberty League basketball action this evening in Bristol Gym. The Herons have won five in a row and improve to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since the 1998-99 squad opened league action with three straight wins.

William Smith (8-4, 3-0 Liberty League) senior Tara Brisson (Bishop Grimes/Liverpool, N.Y.) and first-year Marisa Vespa (Immaculate Heart/Watertown, N.Y.) combined for 12 points and three steals to put the Herons up 15-0 at the 13:47 mark. The Herons forced a total of seven turnovers during the opening 6:13.

Breaking into the scoring column with 10:49 left in the stanza on a jumper by first-year Tracy Geiger (Saddle River Day School/Saddle River, N.J.), Skidmore closed the half with a 15-6 run, heading into the break down 27-15.

Brisson, Vespa, and first-year Brittany Clair (Shaker Heights/Shaker Heights, Ohio) all finished the opening session with six points apiece, while junior Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.) led the defensive charge for William Smith with four steals. Defensively, the Herons held the Thoroughbreds to just 23 percent from the field (6-of-26) and forced 20 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

William Smith started the second half much like the first, pushing the lead back to 24 points, 41-27, with a 14-2 run. Six different players scored at least one point for the Herons during that five minute stretch.

Skidmore(5-8, 1-3 Liberty League) was able to cut the lead back to 19 with 8:56 remaining in the game, but could not get any closer as William Smith finished strong for the 54-26 victory.

Getting 25 points from their bench, the Herons were led by Brisson with a game-high nine points. Vespa and first-year Amanda Nann (Saratoga Catholic/Schuylerville, N.Y.) both added seven points, while junior Tanya Richvalsky (Mohawk/Mohawk, N.Y.) pulled down a team-best seven boards.

The Thoroughbreds were led by senior Shanley Irving (Saratoga/Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) with seven points and a game-high eight rebounds.

William Smith returns to action on Jan. 22, taking on Liberty League rival Union College at 2 p.m., in Bristol Gym.

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