GENEVA, N.Y.—Led by junior Mia Morrison's career-high 32 points, the William Smith College basketball team defeated Vassar College 84-64 in Bristol Gym tonight. Coupled with St. Lawrence's win over Rensselaer, the Herons clinched the sixth and final spot in next week's Liberty League Tournament.
 
Morrison, who missed practice earlier in the week with the flu, showed no signs of being ill. She finished the night 12-of-18 from the floor and 8-of-10 at the free throw line. Morrison also collected eight rebounds. First-year Juliana Gamboa added 16 points, five rebounds and a game-high four assists and classmate Stavriana Dimitrakopoulou chipped in 10 points off the bench. Sophomore Emma Gallagher grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, leading the Herons to a 40-32 advantage on the glass.
 
The Brewers (16-8, 11-6) jumped out to a 13-5 lead, the biggest lead for either team in the first half, but the Herons cut their deficit to just three by the end of the first quarter. William Smith scored the final six points of the second quarter to carry a 41-39 lead into halftime. Gamboa led all scorers at the break with 15 points. Morrison added 14 points. Vassar got a team-high 12 first half points from senior Ariella Rosenthal.
 
Despite trailing by two, the Brewers shot a scorching 54.5 percent from the floor. The Herons shot 47.1 percent.
 
In the second half, the Herons (14-10, 8-9) turned up the defensive pressure, limiting Vassar to 31 percent shooting and just nine field goals made. William Smith led by just three midway through the quarter, but started to get some breathing room with an 11-4 run late in the third quarter. Junior Adrianne Torea started the push with a tradition 3-point play followed by long range 3-pointers by junior Olivia Hughes (8 pts) on consecutive offensive possessions. Hughes capped the run with a layup for a 57-45 lead with 1:39 left in the frame.
 
The Herons led by 10 heading into the fourth quarter and never let its advantage dip below that mark, stretching its lead to as many as 22.
 
The Brewers, who began the night still in contention for a share of the league's regular season title are now locked into the No. 5 seed in the tournament. Sophomore Sophie Nick led Vassar with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting. She also had a team-high eight rebounds. Rosenthal finished with 14 points.
 
William Smith will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 17, when the Herons host Union (7-16, 4-13). The game is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. Vassar plays at the same time at Ithaca (18-6, 13-4).