February 18, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y. –For the second straight season the William Smith College basketball team will travel to St. Lawrence University for the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Woman’s Basketball Tournament.

The Herons are the third seed in the tournament and will face No. 2 Rensselaer in the first semifinal a 6 p.m., on Feb. 22. Top-seeded St. Lawrence will face No. 4 Union College in the other semifinal at 8 p.m. The winners will square off in the Championship at 4 p.m., on Feb. 23. The UCAA Champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Admission to this weekend’s contests is free.

William Smith finished the regular season with a 16-8 record, including a 9-5 league mark. Highlights of the Herons’ season included the team capturing the Showdown in Snowtown Tournament Title with a 64-59 victory over host Frostburg State and senior center Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.) recording her 1,000th career point in a 63-51 upset over then 18th-ranked St. Lawrence at home.

William Smith is scoring 66.0 ppg this season and forcing 20.3 turnovers per game. Cornwell leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 15.5 ppg and 8.3 ppg. Junior forward Laura Hadwin (Vestal/Vestal, N.Y.) is a close second with 15.3 ppg and 7.4 rpg.

The Herons won the first five UCAA Championships, capturing the crown from 1996 through 2000.

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