POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.—William Smith College senior Chloe Hayter scored a team-high 11 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, but the Herons lost 53-43 at Vassar College this afternoon.
 
Hayter moved up to No. 7 on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,235 points, passing Stephanie Czajkowski '08 (1,226). Hayter did all of her scoring in the first half, knocking down 4-of-9 shots from the floor before halftime. Sophomore Courtney Chase added eight points for the Herons.
 
Vassar was led by Caitlin Drakeley's 17 points and five assists. Allyson Pemberton added 11 points. Rose Serafini recorded eight points, a team-high eight rebounds, and a game-high six blocked shots.
 
With seven minutes remaining in the first half, William Smith led 15-13 following a 3-pointer by Hayter, but the Brewers closed the half on a 15-5 that saw the home team knock down 7-of-8 shots from the floor while the visitors went 1-of-11. Vassar led 28-20 at halftime.
 
The Brewers kept the momentum to start the second half, scoring the first 12 points, stretching their lead to 20 on Kim Romanoff's jumper at the 13:47 mark. Senior Ali Pliszka snapped the Herons out of their scoring draught with a 3-pointer. William Smith traded baskets with Vassar over the next seven minutes, trailing 51-30 as the clock ticked past the 6:56 mark.
 
The Herons closed the game on a 13-2 run, including four points from junior Hailey Dietrich, to close the gap. First-year Kendra Quinn-Moultrie made a pair of free throws with 25 seconds to go to capped the day's scoring and get William Smith within 10, but that was as close as the Herons got in the second half.
 
William Smith shot just 28 percent from the floor, including 5-of-18 from 3-point land, and made 6-of-10 at the free throw line. Vassar connected on 41 percent of its shots from the floor, just 14 percent from deep, and went 4-of-5 at the line.
 
William Smith (4-18, 3-11) will play its final home game of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 18, when the Herons host RIT. The annual Play 4Kay game in Bristol Gym is scheduled for 6 p.m. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to support the fight against breast cancer.