Czajkowski tallied a double-double to lead the Herons to the ECAC Upstate Championship. (Photo by Kevin Colton)

March 3, 2007

BROCKPORT, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team, seeded fifth in the ECAC Upstate Tournament, edged second-seeded SUNY Brockport in the championship game this afternoon 68-60. Junior forward Stephanie Czajkowski (Bishop Ludden/Syracuse, N.Y.) was named the tournament’s most valuable player after leading the Herons with a double-double, totaling 21 points and 12 boards on the day. The Herons end their season with an overall record of 17-11, while the Golden Eagles finish with a 22-8 mark.

Liberty League Rookie of the Year Erin Cunningham (Morris Knolls/Rockaway, N.J.) finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for William Smith, while sophomore Latasha Coney (Lyons/Lyons, N.Y.) added 13 points and seven caroms. Junior Courtney Hines (Johnstown/Johnstown, N.Y.) tallied a game-high 26 points for the Golden Eagles.

The Herons controlled the first half, but could not gain more than a nine-point lead. They took a 22-13 lead with 9:31 remaining in the first stanza, following a made lay-up by Cunningham. First-year Stephanie Cochran (Budd Lake/Mount Olive, N.Y.) recorded the helper.

Sparked by a bucket by junior Ashley Broadhurst (Utica Notre Dame/Sauquoit, N.Y.), the Golden Eagles went on a 7-1 run to end the first half, cutting their deficit to two. The Herons took a slim 31-29 advantage into the break.

Brockport came out firing in the second half, tying the game for the first time, 50-50, after a Hines three-pointer with just over eight minutes left. The hosts took their first lead of the game a few minutes later, after a good basket by sophomore Brenlyn Campbell (Lewiston-Porter/Williamsville, N.Y.).

William Smith tied the game again the next time down the floor, as senior Paula Foote (Sidney/Sidney, N.Y.) connected on a lay-up. The teams traded threes on the next two possessions, keeping the game tied at 55 with just over six minutes to play.

After one more tie at 57 all, the Herons reclaimed the lead for good with 3:54 remaining, thanks to a well-timed traditional three-point play by Coney. Junior guard Marisa Vespa (Watertown/Watertown, N.Y.) made four insurance free throws in the final minute to secure the win. Vespa finished with nine points and six assists.

The Herons shot a solid 46.2 percent from the floor to Brockport’s 36.4 percent.

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