February 2. 2002

GENEVA, N.Y. -The William Smith College basketball team shook off a slow start to defeat Skidmore College, 65-41. Senior center Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.) scored a game-high 16 points on Senior Day.

Tight defense in the first half kept either team from grabbing a comfortable lead. A jumper by Thoroughbred sophomore guard Michal Pinkham (Traip Academy/Kittery Point, Maine) gave Skidmore a 12-6 lead at the 9:37 mark, its biggest of the game. For the next eight minutes William Smith inched closer. With just over a minute remaining the half two free throws by junior forward Laura Hadwin (Vestal/Vestal, N.Y.) started a 5-0 run that put the Herons up 23-18 at the half. Hadwin scored six of her eight points in the first 20 minutes.

William Smith's offense took over the game in the second half, opening the final stanza with a 20-5 run. A basket by sophomore guard Melissa Brown (Athens/Athens, Pa.) at the 11:29 mark capped the run, giving the Herons a 43-23 advantage. Brown finished with a career-high 10 points. The Thoroughbreds never recovered as William Smith cruised to the 65-41 victory.

Heron first-year guard Maria Atti (Kenmore East/Buffalo, N.Y.) finished with 10 points and seven boards. William Smith forced 27 Skidmore turnovers.

Junior guard Andrea Paulson (Saratoga Catholic/Ballston Lake, N.Y.) and Carissa Rotas led the Thoroughbreds (10-9, 2-7 UCAA) with 10 points each.

The Herons (14-4, 6-2 UCAA) travel to the University of Rochester on Feb. 5, for a 7 p.m. tip-off. The Yellowjackets (12-6) edged William Smith, 53-49, in Geneva last season.

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