GENEVA, N.Y.—The Vassar College basketball team closed its Liberty League game at William Smith College on an 8-1 run to escape Bristol Gym with an 80-75 victory. The Brewers improved to 4-2 overall, 1-1 in the league, while the Herons slip to 2-3, 0-2.
 
Vassar shot 46 percent from the floor with eight 3-pointers while limiting William Smith to 37 percent shooting. The Herons did make a season-high 12 3-pointers and dominated the glass, enjoying a 48-34 rebounding edge.
 
William Smith used a 13-2 run in the first quarter to build a 10-point lead. Five different Herons scored during the flurry. Early in the second quarter, the William Smith lead was seven following a pair of free throws by sophomore Kyesha Talerico (4 pts, 4 rebs).
 
From there into halftime, the momentum swung in favor of the Brewers. The visitors closed the half on an 18-3 run, including 12 straight points heading into the locker room. Junior Isa Peczuh led all scorers with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Classmate Jackie Cenan had 13 points. William Smith had four players with a team-high four points.
 
After shooting just 8 percent in the second quarter, the Herons played much better in the second half, shooting 47 percent over the final 20 minutes. William Smith whittled away at Vassar's lead in the third quarter, closing the gap to as few as two before heading into the final frame down 54-50.
 
First-year Olivia Parisi made a jumper and a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter scoring, vaulting the Herons back into the lead 55-54. William Smith led by as many as five, the last time on a 3-pointer by sophomore Juliana Gamboa that made it 71-66, but the Brewers fought back to tie the game at 74 on a bucket by sophomore Ryan DeOrio.
 
Cenan put Vassar in front for good with a jumper with about a minute left. William Smith made 1-of-2 at the line to halve the lead, but Peczuh extended the lead to three with a jumper with 30 seconds to go. The Herons were able to get off three 3-pointers over the final 20 seconds, but none of them found the mark and DeOrio closed out the day's scoring at the free throw line with 1 second remaining.
 
The Brewers had four players reach double digits led by Peczuh's game-high 24 points. Cenan added 21 points and a game-high three steals. Junior Sophie Nick posted a double-double on 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. DeOrio finished with 13 points.
 
Gamboa paced the Herons with 18 points and four assists. Senior Mia Morrison logged 14 points and seven boards. Sophomore Stavriana Dimitrakopoulou pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go with six points and four assists.
 
William Smith will play its final contest before final exams begin on Thursday, Dec. 6, when the Herons travel to Hamilton College for a non-conference game. Tipoff in Clinton, N.Y., is scheduled for 6 p.m.