Box Score GENEVA, N.Y. -- The William Smith Herons and the St. Lawrence Saints will tangle for the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament at 3 p.m., on Sat., Feb. 26, in William Smith's Bristol Gym. The Herons, the tournament's top-seed, advance to the title tilt with a 74-53 victory over No. 4 Union College, while the second-seeded Saints topped No. 6 Hamilton, 73-49.

William Smith 74, Union 53
William Smith, ranked 25th in the nation by D3Hoops.com, extended collegiate basketball's longest active home court win streak to 80 games with a 74-53 victory over Union.

William Smith (21-4) used a smothering defensive effort to build a 30-16 halftime lead. The Herons made the Dutchwomen (13-13) wait three minutes before recording their first field goal. Union managed just six more over the final 17 minutes of the half. William Smith was especially dominant from the 11:21 mark on. Following a jumper by sophomore Katie Smith (Delmar, N.Y.) that knotted the game at 12-12, the Herons held the Dutchwomen scoreless for the next 8 minutes, and 51 seconds, while adding 13 points to their total. Union shot just 24.1 percent from the floor in the first half (7-of-29), and only 31.6 percent for the game.

Sophomore Jeanne Marie Vinchiarello (Our Lady of Lourdes/Dover Plains, N.Y.) paced the William Smith offense with a career-high 17 points, while senior Liz Brown (Marcus Whitman/Rushville, N.Y.) chipped in 16 points and a career-high nine assists. Junior Brianna Tindall (Castleton/Pultney, Vt.) also reached double digits (10 points).

The Herons held a decisive advantage on the boards, outrebounding the visitors 45-38. Sophomore Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.) led the way with a team-high 12 rebounds. William Smith outscored Union 20-8 on second chance opportunities.

Smith led the Dutchwomen with 25 points, while sophomore Heather Bennett (Westwood, Mass.) added 10 points and 12 boards.

The Herons will attempt to capture their 10th conference championship in as many seasons against the only league opponent to send William Smith to defeat this season, St. Lawrence.

St. Lawrence 73, Hamilton 49
The Continentals (6-19) took advantage of poor shooting by the Saints (21-5) and frequent trips to the charity stripe (11-of-14) to hang with St. Lawrence in the first half, but in the end the Saints proved too powerful, taking a 73-49 victory.

St. Lawrence charged out to a 14-3 lead, but Hamilton managed to whittle the Saints lead to just two, 26-24, with 5:06 to play before the half. St. Lawrence ballooned that lead to nine by the break, 35-26. The Continentals still trailed by nine, 37-28, 76 seconds into the final frame, but could get no closer.

Four Saints reached double digits to pace a balanced attack. Sophomores Nicole Leary (Northfield, Mass.) and Meredith Eisenhut (Mohawk, N.Y.) and first-year Katie Griffith each recorded 11 points, while sophomore Jen Janeway (Wallingford, Conn.) contributed 10.

First-year Lindsey Schantz (Sharon, Mass.) led Hamilton with 11 points, while junior Abby McDermott (Mexico, N.Y.) added nine points and 10 rebounds.

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