GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College Athletic Department will host its annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Saturday, Feb. 9. Events run throughout the afternoon and evening and admission is free to girls and women of all ages.
 
The day begins with Skate With The Herons at the Geneva Recreation Complex. From 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. members of the William Smith ice hockey team will be on the ice for an open skate and autograph session. While admission to the rink is free, skate rentals are not included.
 
At 2 p.m., NGWSD activities shift to Bristol Gymnasium for the Heron basketball game against Liberty League rival Bard. The game will also be Senior Day with Mia Morrison and Olivia Hughes playing their final regular season home games. The duo will be honored during the pregame. Following the game, girls will be invited to an autograph session with the team.
 
The Herons enter this weekend's games with a 13-7 overall record, including a 9-5 mark in the Liberty League. William Smith is in fourth place in the conference standings. The top six teams make the league's postseason tournament with the top two earning a first round bye. The No. 4 and No. 5 seeds will host first round games on Feb. 19 before heading to the top seeded team for the semifinals and championship, Feb. 23-24.
 
NGWSD concludes with the William Smith hockey game against Buffalo State at 7 p.m. at the Geneva Recreation Complex. The Heron hockey team is 14-6-1 overall, 12-3-1 in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Bengals are William Smith's final non-conference opponent of the season. The two teams will face off again at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Herons, who have already clinched a berth in the six-team UCHC Tournament, wrap up the regular season against UCHC foe Nazareth, Feb 16-17.
 
NGWSD began as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Since Hyman's death from Marfan's Syndrome while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan in 1986, NGWSD has evolved into a day to not only acknowledge the past, but also recognize the current sports achievements as well as the positive influence of sports participation and continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.
 
This year will be the 33rd annual NGWSD. This year's theme is: Lead Her Forward. This will be the 14th consecutive year that William Smith has celebrated NGWSD.