MANHATTAN, N.Y.—For the second time in as many days, the William Smith College basketball team faced an undefeated team ranked in the top 10 in the nation. The Herons put up a valiant effort, but No. 9 New York University ran away with an 88-56 victory in the NYU Holiday Classic.
 
William Smith senior forward Chloe Hayter scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while sophomore forward Gabrielle Eure notched 12 points and seven boards. Senior guard Ali Pliszka recorded nine points and three assists. Sophomore guard Melanie Patterson also had four assists.
 
NYU (10-0) put three players in double digits led by Kaitlyn Read's 16 points and game-high six assists. Amy Harioka logged 15 points and Emily Rowe chipped in 13 points and a team-high five rebounds. Lindsey Oldshue also had five boards.
 
William Smith (1-7) grabbed its only lead of the game when Hayter opened the day's scoring with a pair of free throws. Read answered with a 3-pointer to put the Violets in the lead for good. The Herons remained in contact with NYU deep into the first half, but after Eure's layup at 6:17 made it 29-20, NYU rattled off the next six points and closed the half on a 17-4 run.
 
The Violets led 46-24 at the half.
 
Four minutes into the second half, William Smith closed the gap to 20 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Hayter, but got no closer as NYU pulled away for the win.
 
William Smith shot 39 percent from the floor, including 6-of-16 from 3-point range, and 60 percent from the free throw line. NYU shot 53 percent from the field, going 7-of-18 from beyond the arc, and 64 percent at the line. The Violets controlled the glass, outrebounding the Herons 37-33, and committed 16 turnovers to the visitor's 31.
 
William Smith opens Liberty League play on Friday, Jan. 9, when the Herons host Clarkson at 6 p.m.