Box Score THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.—The William Smith College basketball team suffered through its worst first half shooting performance of the season in a 57-43 loss to Albion College in the first round of the Posada Royale Holiday Classic. The Herons were just 2-of-26 in the opening 20 minutes as the Brittons charged out to a 35-8 halftime lead.

In the first half, William Smith missed its first nine shots, but trailed just 9-4 when Chloe Hayter converted a layup for the Herons' first basket. The Albion lead was 15-6 midway through the opening stanza, when the Brittons siezed control. Albion scored 14 unanswered points over the next eight minutes, stretching its lead to 23.

After falling into a 27-point halftime deficit, William Smith played much better in the second half, outscoring Albion 35-22. The Herons (4-4) were still in a 24-point hole with just over five minutes to play, but a 12-2 run fueled by an eight-point outburst from Erin O'Brien got William Smith within 14 with 2:42 remaining. The Brittons (6-5) scored the next three points of the game from the free throw line squelching any hopes of a Heron comeback.

O'Brien led William Smith with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 6-of-7 from the line. California native Sasha Borenstein added nine points, all from behind the arc. Jacqueline Murphy pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for the Herons.

Patty Rewa and Nicole Dennis notched double-doubles for the Brittons. Rewa recorded a game-high 18 points and grabbed 10 boards and Dennis chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds. Dennis also registered a game-high six assists.

William Smith will wrap up the 2011 portion of its schedule on Saturday, Dec. 31, when the Herons take on Rivier College. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. (5 p.m. EST). The Raiders (6-4) lost to Bowdoin 90-66 today.