Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team opened Liberty League play this evening with a 57-44 victory over visiting Vassar College. The Herons were led by junior guard Paula Foote (Sidney/Sidney, N.Y.), who notched a team-high 17 points and six rebounds.

William Smith (7-3, 1-0) held the lead from the first basket through the final buzzer, not even allowing the Brewers (5-6, 0-1) to so much as tie the contest. The Herons were clinging to a five-point advantage with nine minutes remaining in the opening stanza when the home team seized control, outscoring their guests 19-9 heading into the break. Foote paced the surge with eight of her 10 first-half points.

William Smith led 35-20 at halftime, shooting .405 from the floor while limiting Vassar to just .267.

The Brewers kept things interesting in the second half clawing their way back into the game with a late 9-1 run to get within five, 47-42. Junior forward Rachel Cerlen (Milburn/Short Hills, N.J.) capped the run with two of her game-high 18 points.

The Herons responded with a 10-2 run to close out the contest. Senior guard Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.) netted half of her squad’s points during the final five minutes, finishing with 10 on the night.

Cerlen also added a game-high 13 rebounds, but William Smith won the battle of the boards 46-38. First-year guard Paige Myers (Massena/Massena, N.Y.) led the Herons’ balanced effort with eight rebounds.

William Smith, which played without its top-two point guards (day-to-day injuries), displayed its depth, outscoring Vassar’s bench 23-4.

The Herons are back in action at 2 p.m. on Jan. 14, when they host Rensselaer. The Red Hawks (7-3, 1-0) won 63-54 at Hamilton tonight.