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Herons' 2nd half rally stings Utica
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Czajkowski scored 22 points at Utica. (Photo by Kevin Colton) |
February 28, 2007
UTICA, N.Y.—The William Smith basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the ECAC Upstate Tournament with a 67-54 victory over Utica College in the Clark Athletic Center. The Herons, who posted their first ECAC victory in five tries, were led by the 22 points and 10 rebounds of junior forward Stephanie Czajkowski.
William Smith (15-11) shot 50.8 percent from the floor in the contest, while limiting the Pioneers (18-9) to just 28.8 percent, including a dismal 6-of-32 in the second half.
Czajkowski was an impressive 11-of-16 from the floor in the game, scoring 16 of her 22 points in the second half. First-year forward Erin Cunningham also posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Paula Foote added 14 points and a team-high six assists, while Latasha Coney chipped in 10 points off the bench.
A back and forth first half featured three ties and 13 lead changes. The Pioneers (18-9) carried a 32-29 lead into halftime. Empire 8 Player of the Year Ava Thomas and Laura Keating paced Utica with 11 first half points. While Thomas finished with game-highs in points (24), rebounds (12), blocked shots (7), and steals (4), Keating scored just two second half points.
The second half belonged to the Herons, who overcame a halftime deficit for the fifth time this season. William Smith charged out of the gate with a 14-2 run, keyed by eight points from Czajkowski, to build a nine-point lead. Conversely, the Pioneers went stone cold, making just one of their first 16 shots in the session, a layup by Thomas at the 16:18 mark. She accounted for four of Utica's six second half field goals.
Three free throws by Mallory Davis (5 pts) whittled the Heron lead down to six, 43-37, with 12:22. William Smith used a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to push its lead into double digits for good.
The fifth seeded Herons will meet No. 8 Rensselaer in the semifinals on March 2. The Red Hawks posted a 74-61 upset of No. 1 Elmira. The highest remaining seed, Brockport, will host the semifinals and championship. Game times will be announced on March 1.