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Herons ground Red Hawks for shot at title
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Latasha Coney |
March 2, 2007
BROCKPORT, N.Y.—The William Smith basketball team advanced to the championship game of the ECAC Upstate Tournament with a 56-51 win over Rensselaer in Tuttle North Gym tonight. The fifth seeded Herons will battle No. 2 Brockport State for the title at 2 p.m. on March 3.
Latasha Coney paced three Herons in double digits with 13 points and a game-high six assists off the bench. Stephanie Czajkowski added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Erin Cunningham chipped in 11 points and seven boards.
Whitney Coleman carried the Red Hawks' offense with a game-high 21 points, while Kristi Baranowski helped RPI to a 40-36 advantage on the boards with 10 caroms.
In the first half, the lead changed hands seven times before William Smith (16-11) ended the frame on an 8-2 run to take a 29-23 lead into the break. The Herons did an exceptional job of taking care of the basketball, committing just four turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, while forcing the Red Hawks (16-11) into 10.
In the second half, William Smith enjoyed its largest lead of the night, 44-31, thanks to a three-pointer by Paige Myers.
At that point, RPI started to chip away at the Heron lead. Baranowski sank a pair of free throws with 39.3 seconds remaining to make it a one-point game.
On its next possession, William Smith missed a layup with 11 seconds remaining, but Cunningham collected the rebound. The Red Hawks were forced to foul and Paul Foote hit both of her chances from the charity stripe. RPI missed a three on its ensuing possession and Coney collected the rebound and sealed the win with two more made free throws.
William Smith will face a Brockport squad that needed overtime to top No. 3 Oswego State. The Herons defeated the Golden Eagles back on Dec. 10, 72-59, behind Czajkowski's 19 points.