Box Score GENEVA, N.Y. -- The William Smith College basketball team shot 50.9 percent from the floor in defeating Gwynedd-Mercy College 78-52 in a first round game of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament. Sophomore Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.) scored a career-high matching 20 points, and the Herons (22-5) improved to 8-0 in eight NCAA Tournament games in Bristol Gym.
William Smith closed out the opening half with a 16-4 run to lead 34-19 at intermission on the strength of 54.2 percent field goal shooting. Senior Liz Brown (Marcus Whitman/Rushville, N.Y.) netted her first three trifectas and scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half. Gwynedd-Mercy shot just 28.6 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
In the second stanza, the Herons scored the initial 12 points and outscored the Griffins 25-2 in the opening 8 minutes, 2 seconds to take a commanding 59-21 lead.
Cornwell hit 8-of-10 field goals for the game, and had 12 of her game-high 20 points in the second half. Brown had a team-high seven rebounds, dished out two assists, and added two steals. Junior Brianna Tindall (Pultney/Castleton, Vt.) hit 4-of-5 from the floor, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, in providing 11 points and four steals. Senior Tricia Lockwood (Homer/Truxton, N.Y.) contributed nine points, five rebounds, and five steals, and classmate Liz Masten (Williamsport/Williamsport, Pa.) tied a career-best with seven assists.
Senior Rachel Pearson (Holland, Pa.) led Gwynedd-Mercy (23-5) with 12 points and six rebounds. Senior Michelle Costa (Philadelphia, Pa.) and sophomore Mary Ann Wade (Hatboro, Pa.) added 10 points apiece. Costa concluded her impressive four-year career with 2,035 points, while Pearson finished with 1,156.
The Herons advance to the second round to take on host St. Lawrence University (22-5) on Sat., March 4, at 2 p.m. The Saints have won two of the three meetings this season, including a 60-57 overtime decision on Sat., Feb. 26, in the inaugural Upstate Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.
-- HWS SPORTS --
