Box Score CORTLAND, N.Y.—All five starters for the William Smith College basketball team posted double digits in the scoring column tonight, as the Herons handed 16th-ranked SUNY Cortland its first loss of the season, 78-71. William Smith improved its overall record to 7-1, while the Red Dragons dropped to 7-1. The Herons are now 3-1 against teams ranked in the D3hoops.com top 25.

Senior forward Stephanie Czajkowski (Bishop Ludden/Syracuse, N.Y.) led William Smith with 17 points and five rebounds, while senior guard Marisa Vespa (Immaculate Heart/Watertown, N.Y.) posted 12 points, seven assists, six boards, and five steals. Additionally, sophomore forward Erin Cunningham (Morris Knolls/Rockaway, N.J.) netted 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds, junior guard Latasha Coney (Lyons/Lyons, N.Y.) registered 11 points and seven caroms, and graduate guard Paula Foote (Sidney/Sidney, N.Y.) scored 11 and added six boards.

Cortland sophomore Jessica Laing (South Kortright/Bloomville, N.Y.) paced the hosts with a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Sara Cavanaugh (Hastings/Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.) chipped in 17 points and 11 boards.

The Herons held a 12-7 lead with 14 minutes, 57 seconds remaining in the first half, but the Red Dragons cut their early deficit to 12-11, following back-to-back buckets from junior Kristin Ciccone (Long Beach/Long Beach, N.Y.).

With 3:54 remaining in the first half, Cortland held a four point advantage, 31-27, matching its largest lead of the contest. Shortly after, William Smith cut the lead to one, thanks to a traditional three-point play by Coney. The Herons took a 32-31 lead with 1:40 left in the stanza following a jumper from Foote. She scored nine of her 11 points in the first half.

William Smith led 36-33 at the break, after two made free throws by senior Kristen Suatoni (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.). Suatoni finished with eight points and four rebounds.

The Red Dragons came out firing in the second half, tying the game at 36-all on their first possession. After a few minutes of back-and-forth action, the Herons took the lead for good with 13:57 remaining, on a good Coney free throw.

The hosts threatened throughout the remainder of the game, but William Smith did not let up, and led by as many as 10 in the second half. The Herons shot 42.2 percent from the floor, while the hosts shot 34.8 percent.

The Herons will be in action again on Jan. 12, when they host Lycoming for a non-league match at 2 p.m.