Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College senior guard Erin O'Brien scored a game-high 15 points, but visiting St. Lawrence University dominated the boards and won a defensive battle 51-47 in Bristol Gym today. The Saints improve to 15-7 overall and 11-2 in the Liberty League while the Herons slip to 18-6 overall, 11-4 in the league.
 
O'Brien went 4-of-5 from downtown. She was the only William Smith player to reach double digits. Junior forward Chloe Hayter had nine points and seven rebounds, but was slowed by first half foul trouble that limited her to just five minutes on the floor before the half.
 
Junior guard Kara McDuffee led SLU with 11 points and 11 rebounds. First-year forward Caroline Dalton added 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds and junior guard Allison Cady had 10 points and nine boards.
 
Neither team shot very well—the Herons made just 27 percent of their shots and the Saints made just 30 percent—but St. Lawrence outrebounded William Smith 53-40. A close game from start to finish, the largest lead for both teams was just eight with the lead changing hands 15 times.
 
Hayter gave the Herons their final lead of the game, converting an old fashion 3-point play with 5:29 to go for a 41-40 edge. SLU countered with eight straight points, the last four scored by McDuffee for a 48-41 lead with 46 seconds to go.
 
O'Brien snapped a five-minute scoring drought with her final trey of the day with 26 seconds left. Following a Heron timeout, William Smith stole the inbounds pass and called another timeout. The Herons were able to get the ball inside to Hayter who got off a contested layup try that rolled across the rim. The Saints grabbed the rebounded and sealed the victory with a pair of free throws made by senior forward Kelly Legg (5 pts, 8 rebs) with two seconds remaining.
 
The first half was made up of three big runs. St. Lawrence had four different players scoring in a 9-0 run that resulted in a 14-6 lead for the visitors. William Smith came back with 16 consecutive points to take a 22-14 lead with 4:16 left. Patterson sparked the run with the first four points while O'Brien and senior guard Sasha Borenstein each made a 3-pointer. The Saints closed the half on a 9-1 run that sent the teams into the locker room tied at 23.
 
William Smith will wrap up the regular season at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, when the Herons host Union (14-8, 6-7). St. Lawrence will also play on Tuesday at 6 p.m., visiting Clarkson (8-13, 3-10).