SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—William Smith College senior Ali Pliszka enjoyed a career day in Skidmore College's Williamson Center, but the homestanding Thoroughbreds dodged Pliszka and the upset-minded Herons 83-73 in double overtime.
 
Pliszka scored a game and career-high 22 points. She made a career-high eight field goals, including a career-high six 3-pointers. She also had grabbed five rebounds and doled out a team-high five assists. Senior Chloe Hayter notched her eighth double-double of the year with 14 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Sophomore Melanie Patterson chipped in 11 points, sophomore Gabrielle Eure added 10 boards, and sophomore Courtney Chase had five points and a career-high three blocked shots.
 
The Herons sank a season-high 11 3-pointers, but the Skidmore drained a season-high 18 from behind the arc, including three in the second overtime period.
 
Lindsey Davis and Molly McLaughlin paced Skidmore (11-5, 7-0) with 18 points apiece. Both players recorded all of their points from long range. Angela Botiba had a double-double on 11 points and 10 rebounds. Amber Holgate also scored 11 points. Kelly Donnelly led the Thoroughbreds to a 61-51 advantage on the glass with a team-high 16 boards.
 
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with William Smith building a 19-13 lead on the strength of 11 unanswered points. First-year Sarah Brophy capped the run with a 3-pointer and a layup. Skidmore ended the half on a 19-6 run to go into the break with a 32-25 lead. The Thoroughbreds got points from seven different players during the run.
 
Skidmore still led by seven three minutes into the second half, but over the next six minutes the Herons outscored the home team 15-5 to take a 45-42 lead. From that point through the end of the first overtime, neither team led by more than four points.
 
At the end of regulation, both teams got clutch defensive plays to keep the game tied. Hayter knotted the game at 63 with a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left. Skidmore tried to take the lead, but Chase blocked the shot and Pliszka corralled the rebound. At the other end of the floor, Botiba blocked the Herons final field goal attempt to set the stage for OT.
 
In the first extra period, Pliszka and McLaughlin each sank two 3-pointers. Pliszka's second put William Smith up 71-69 with 73 seconds to go. Holgate tied the game 41 seconds later. The Herons got off a 3-pointer for the win in the waning seconds, but the shot was off the mark and Skidmore's desperate heave from midcourt missed necessitating another five minute period.
 
Davis did most of the damage down the stretch for the Thoroughbreds, sinking a trio of triples and propelling her team to victory.
 
William Smith (3-12, 2-5) will look to bounce back on Friday, Jan. 30, when the Herons visit St. Lawrence.