Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y. – Despite a strong second half performance, Rensselaer fell, 64-53, to the William Smith women’s basketball team, tonight in the Liberty League semi-finals. With the victory, the Herons improve to 24-2 overall (13-1 Liberty League) and will advance to the league finals tomorrow. The Red Hawks finish their season 12-13, including a 7-7 mark in conference play.

William Smith scored the first seven points of the game. It then opened up a 14 point lead, on a jump shot by Marissa Vespa (Watertown, NY/Immaculate Heart) with 3:37 to play in the first half.

Vespa and RPI senior guard Missy Jackman (Danvers, MA/Danvers) traded three-pointers to finish the half, with William Smith taking a 30-16 advantage into the locker room.

The Red Hawks, who shot just 18.8% in the first half, worked their way to the free throw line in the second, converting on 19-22 attempts from the line. RPI outscored William Smith 37-34 in the second stanza.

The Herons led by as many as 19 points halfway through the second, but Rensselaer made a move to trim their advantage down to ten after a pair of free throws from junior Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA/LaSalle Academy), with 1:42 to play.

Latasha Coney (Lyons, NY/Lyons) led William Smith with 16 points. She was followed by Vespa, who scored 14 points and added six assists and five rebounds. Stephanie Czajkowski (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Ludden) chipped in with ten points and eight boards.

Jackman paced all scorers with 18 points. Junior Elizabeth Barker (Suffield, CT/Cathedral) added a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. She also recorded four assists.