Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith basketball team came up short in its upset bid of Liberty League frontrunner Rensselaer this afternoon. The Herons scorched the Bristol Gym nets in the first half, but cooled off after the break, falling to the Engineers 72-60.

William Smith took a 42-41 lead into halftime on the strength of a 51.7 percent shooting performance that included 4-of-7 from behind the three-point arc. The Herons could have carried a bigger advantage into the break, but committed 12 turnovers compared to just six for Rensselaer. The Engineers' Whitney Coleman led all scorers at the break with 19 points. She was 8-of-14 from the floor; the rest of her team was 8-of-33 (.242).

After the intermission, the defense of Ali Napier slowed Coleman—she netted just 10—to finish with a game-high 29 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Napier blocked a pair of Coleman shots and collected four boards.

Unfortunately for William Smith, the rest of the RPI lineup stepped up. A back-and-forth start to the second half saw the Herons take a 49-47 lead on a layup by Mollie Danahy. The Engineers countered with 10 unanswered points to seize control of the contest. Laura Easterling and Hillary McKinley scored four points apiece during the run. Easterling finished with 10 points, while McKinley added eight.

William Smith was able to cut its deficit to six twice down the stretch, the last time on a pair of free throws by Danahy at the 5:28 mark, but RPI (10-6, 5-0) ended the game on a 9-3 run.

Danahy led the Herons (5-10, 1-4) with 19 points, six rebounds, and five steals, while Julie Hooper added 10 points, while sophomore forward Kristen Kush chipped in nine points.

William Smith is back in action at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29, when the Herons visit St. Lawrence. Rensselaer returns home for its next contest, hosting Union at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29.