GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team outscored visiting Nazareth College 25-13 in the third quarter to hand the visitors their first loss of the season 76-61 in Bristol Gymnasium tonight. Sophomore forward Mia Morrison led the Herons with a team-high 20 points, five rebounds, a game-high five steals, and a game-high three blocked shots.
 
Morrison was 9-of-18 shooting and made 2-of-4 from the free throw line. She was joined in double figures by sophomore guard Natalia Baum, who finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Senior forward Gabrielle Eure added nine points and nine rebounds and senior guard Melanie Patterson also netted nine points to go with a game-high six assists.
 
William Smith (2-2) forced Nazareth into 28 turnovers and committed just 12 resulting in a 30-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
For the Golden Flyers, senior guard Sam Sorge had a game-high 27 points, making 11-of-21 from the floor with four 3-pointers. First-year forward Rachel Benedict contributed 15 points.
 
Nazareth (2-1) had a 40-37 edge on the glass thanks to a game-high 10 rebounds by junior guard Samantha Peebles. Sorge added nine boards and Bennedict grabbed seven. However, it was the Herons who held the upper hand in second chance points 21-2.
 
William Smith came out flat to start the game as Nazareth ran out to a 12-2 lead less than three minutes into the game. The Herons called a timeout to regroup and sent five new players onto the floor. The break proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered as William Smith climbed all the way out of its hole with a 16-6 run. After 10 minutes of play, the teams were tied at 20.
 
In the second quarter, neither team led by more than three points. Morrison scored the final bucket of the half to send the home time into the break with a 33-31 lead.
 
The Golden Flyers shot 52 percent from the floor while holding the Herons to 35 percent shooting. However, William Smith forced 14 Nazareth turnovers while committing just three. The Herons held a 13-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
William Smith opened the pivotal third quarter on an 18-5 run. After the teams traded buckets to start the second half, the Herons rattled off nine straight points, including five points from senior guard Alyssa DiCampli. William Smith pushed its lead to as many as 15 before carrying a 58-44 lead into the final stanza.
 
Nazareth started the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run to cut the Heron lead to seven, but Morrison, Baum, and Patterson made consecutive baskets to push the lead back to 13. William Smith led by at least nine for the rest of the game.
 
The Herons will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, when they host St. John Fisher. Nazareth will also play next Tuesday, visiting Fredonia at 7 p.m.