GENEVA, N.Y.—All five William Smith College starters reached double figures as the Herons posted a 74-69 Liberty League women's basketball win over Vassar College in Bristol Gym this afternoon. William Smith weathered a late charge by the Brewers to improve to 6-9 overall, 4-3 in league play, while Vassar falls to 3-12, 1-6.
 
First-year Mia Morrison led the Herons with 15 points, as well as six rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots, and two steals. Junior Gabrielle Eure recorded 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Junior Melanie Patterson scored 12 points and dished out a game-high five assists. Sophomore Kendra Quinn-Moultrie and first-year Olivia Hughes chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
William Smith shot 42 percent from the floor and sank more free throws (20) than Vassar attempted (11). The Herons also had a 42-38 rebounding edge.
 
Vassar was led by senior Caitlin Drakeley, who despite foul trouble throughout the contest, logged game-highs of 21 points, nine rebounds, and five steals. Sophomore Ariella Rosenthal added 16 points and senior Alex Moon scored 10 points.
 
The Brewers shot 43 percent from the floor and finished plus-four in turnover margin.
 
Vassar led by 1 with four minutes left in the opening quarter, but William Smith went on a 10-2 run to close the frame with a 19-12 lead. Eure scored 6 points and Patterson the other 4 during the closing stretch.
 
The Herons ran their lead out to as many as 15 in the second quarter before taking a 42-33 lead into halftime. Eure was the top scorer through 20 minutes with 12, two more than Morrison.
 
Vassar got within 3 twice in the early part of the third quarter, but after the second time, the Brewers went more than two minutes without a basket as William Smith scored 6 straight points for a 50-41 advantage.
 
Hughes hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter scoring and give the Herons their largest lead of the second half at 63-49. Over the next seven minutes, Vassar outscored the home team 15-2, including 9 points from Drakeley. Rosenthal's layup with three minutes to go cut William Smith's advantage to just 1, 65-64. Junior Alyssa DiCampli answered with a 3-pointer set up by Patterson and Patterson and Morrison each made 1-of-2 at the free throw line to stretch the lead back out to 6 with less than a minute remaining. Rosenthal again made it a one-possession game on a layup with 32 ticks remaining, but the Herons went 4-of-6 at the free throw line down the stretch to close out the win.
 
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, William Smith will travel to Union for its next game while Vassar will visit Bard on the same day. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m.