12-01-2002

GENEVA, N.Y.--The Rensselaer basketball team used a second half rally to edge William Smith College 66-64 in Bristol Gymnasium this afternoon. Junior forward Laura Hadwin (Vestal/Vestal, N.Y.) led all scorers with 18 points.

The teams traded baskets and leads in the first half with neither team leading by more than four. Hadwin and senior center Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.) each reached double digits in the half with 12 and 10 points, respectively, and the Herons led 35-32 after the first 20 minutes.

William Smith opened the second half on a 14-7 run to build a 49-39 lead, its largest of the game. Rensselaer scored the next 12 points to take a 51-49 advantage with 8:44 left. The Herons rebounded to take a 53-51 lead on a jumper by first-year guard Maria Atti (Kenmore East/Buffalo, N.Y.) and two Cornwell free throws.

A three-pointer from sophomore forward Kelly Choppy (Lansingburg/Troy, N.Y.) broke a 53-53 tie three minutes later and the Red Hawks never trailed again. Two free throws by sophomore guard Kristin Kaczynski (Northwestern Reg. #7/Pleasant Valley, Conn.) gave Rensselaer a 66-60 lead with 1:05 remaining. Cornwell cut the lead to two at the 19-second mark and the Herons got the ball back after a missed Red Hawk shot, but Kaczynski intercepted a William Smith pass to ice the game with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Cornwell notched her seventh straight double-double with 16 points and 14 boards, while Atti and senior guard Jeanne Vinchiarello (Our Lady of Lourdes/Dover Plains, N.Y.) each added 10 for the Herons.

Kaczynski led Rensselaer (8-3, 2-0 UCAA) with 15 points and First-year center Kaitlyn Saunders (Northwest Catholic/Windsor, Conn.) contributed nine points to the Red Hawks effort, all on three-pointers.

William Smith (8-3, 1-1 UCAA) travels to Union and Skidmore on Jan. 18-19. The Herons split with the Dutchwomen and swept the Thoroughbreds last season.

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