GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College sophomore Courtney Chase knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:25 remaining to pull her team within one, but Union held off the Herons in the final minutes for a 54-51 Liberty League win tonight in Bristol Gym. Chase finished with a game and career-high 16 points for William Smith.
 
Kate Thompson led the Dutchwomen (13-7, 7-5) with 12 points. Jenni Barra, Natalie Leone and Amy Fisher each added 11 points. Leone also added a team-high four assists. Abby Katz brought down 10 boards to lead Union to a 44-38 advantage on the glass. The Dutchwomen shot 33.8 percent from the floor and went 5-of-11 from the free throw line.
 
William Smith senior Chloe Hayter produced her ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and game-high 13 rebounds. The Herons blocked a season-high eight shots, including three by first-year Krista Anken and two each by Chase and Hayter. Melanie Patterson logged a career-high matching and game-high five steals while Ali Pliszka handed out a game-high eight assists. The Herons shot 35.0 percent from the floor and were 5-of-9 from the free throw line.
 
The back and forth first half featured five ties and four lead changes. The Dutchwomen, who led by as many as six at 6:58, were able to take a 23-21 lead into halftime thanks in part to Thompson's 10-point first half effort.
 
Union built an 8-point lead twice during the second half, but both times William Smith rallied, cutting the Dutchwomen's advantage to 1. Union led 54-46 with 1:08 to go, but a jumper by Chase and a 3-pointer from Hayter with 19 seconds to go made it 54-51. William Smith fouled and the Dutchwomen missed the front end of a one-and-one and Hayter secured the rebound. William Smith go off a 3-point attempt just ahead of the buzzer, but the shot rimmed out.
 
The Herons (3-15, 2-8) will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 5, when they host Skidmore for another Liberty League contest at 6 p.m. in Bristol Gym. The Dutchwomen will play at Sage on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.