Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team was plus eight in rebounding margin and made nearly twice as many free throws as Vassar College attempted in a 67-59 Liberty League triumph over the Brewers in Bristol Gym tonight. Junior guard Jacqueline Murphy led the way with her 10th career double-double on 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
The Herons fourth straight win improved their record to 12-6 overall, 6-3 in the Liberty League. William Smith outrebounded Vassar 37-29. At the free throw line, the Herons went 18-of-26, compared to an 8-of-10 showing by the Brewers.
 
Murphy was joined in double figures by senior guard Sydni Salvatore, who recorded 13 points, and junior guard Sasha Borenstein, who scored 12 points. Senior guard Jaimie Rubin had seven points and a team-high five assists. Sophomore forwards Chloe Hayter and Molly Breen both netted eight points.
 
Vassar (13-4, 5-3) also had three players reach double digits. Sophomore forward Colleen O'Connell scored a game-high 16 points to go with six rebounds. Junior forward Hannah Senftleber posted 11 points and six boards, and first-year guard Caitlin Drakeley also scored 11 points. The Brewers' leading scorer, junior guard Cydni Matsuoka (18.1 ppg), was limited to just seven points, but she did record a game-high eight assists.
 
Despite having four players in foul trouble, the first half couldn't have gone much better for the Herons. With three of its top four scorers out of the game with two fouls apiece, William Smith trailed just 24-22 with 3:51 remaining. The Herons closed the half on a 13-4 run fueled by 3-pointers, including two from Borenstein.
 
William Smith led 35-28 at the break after shooting 52.4 percent from the floor, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. The Herons limited the Brewers to 45.8 percent shooting. William Smith also enjoyed a 14-9 rebounding advantage.
 
An old fashion 3-point play by Salvatore early in the second half gave the Herons a 42-30 lead. However, the two-time defending Liberty League champs didn't go down without a fight, roaring back into the lead with a 16-2 run. Senftleber scored five points during the surge.
 
William Smith got back on track thanks to a Murphy layup that tied the score for the 12th and final time and a Borenstein 3-pointer that put the Herons in the lead for good at the 9:21 mark.
 
It remained a one possession lead for William Smith until the clock wound down under the four minute mark. Junior guard Erin O'Brien's traditional 3-point play with 3:48 remaining stretched the Heron lead to six and William Smith kept Vassar at arm's length from there on out.
 
William Smith will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 1, when the Herons host Rensselaer. Tipoff in Bristol Gym is slated for 6 p.m. Vassar will return home to host Bard at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29.