FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—William Smith College senior guard Melanie Patterson produced a season-high 21 points and a career-high six steals in an 86-56 loss to No. 8 Wartburg College in the Cruzin Classic this afternoon. The Knights improved to 10-0, while the Herons slip to 5-3.
 
Despite missing three starters due to injury, William Smith jumped out to an early lead, taking a 14-9 advantage after one quarter. The Herons scored the first eight points of the game, while forcing turnovers on the Knights' first four possessions. Once Wartburg got a shot off, it took a while for them to make one. The Knights missed their first nine shots from the field, finally making a basket with just 2:40 remaining in the quarter.
 
William Smith held off Wartburg through the first five minutes of the second quarter, but Katie Sommer hit a 3-pointer that gave the Knights a 27-26 lead. Morgan Neuendorf followed with another 3-pointer to make it a four-point game. Patterson converted an old-fashion 3-point play to get the Herons within one, but Wartburg used a 7-2 run to end the half with a 37-31 lead.
 
Patterson led all scorers with 11 points through 20 minutes of play. Sommer had eight points and eight rebounds to pace the Knights.
 
William Smith trailed by at least five points and as many as 16 as Wartburg took control of the game in the third quarter. The Knights finished the game strong, outscoring the Herons 24-9 in the last 10 minutes.
 
Patterson was the only William Smith player to reach double digits in the scoring column. Senior forward Krista Anken contributed seven points and five rebounds. First-year guard Emma Gallagher also scored seven points for the Herons. Sophomore Adrienne Torea grabbed a team-high six rebounds. William Smith shot 30 percent from the field, 22 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 62 percent from the free throw line.
 
Wartburg got a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds from Miranda Murphy. Sommer finished with a double-double on 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Neuendorf chipped in 12 points. The Knights shot 53 percent from the field, including a scorching 65 percent in the second half, 41 percent from deep, and 71 percent at the line.
 
The game was the Herons' final contest of the 2016 calendar year. William Smith returns to action on Monday, Jan. 2, to take on Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.