HENRIETTA, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team outlasted the Rochester Institute of Technology 90-86 in overtime in Liberty League action tonight. The Herons shot a season-high 50.8 percent from the floor and made a season-high 12 3-pointers in their first OT game of the season.
 
Sophomore Olivia Parisi paced William Smith (7-3, 3-0 Liberty) with 20 points, nine rebounds, and two blocked shots. Classmate Stella Davis made game-high five 3-pointers on the way to a 19-point night. She also pulled down six boards. First-year Lauren DeVaney added 14 points and shared team-high honors with nine rebounds. First-year Maddie Malicki chipped in a season-high 13-point effort that included 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Senior Emma Gallagher scored nine points, grabbed seven boards, and dished out a career-high seven assists.
 
In addition to their hot shooting, the Herons also controlled the glass, outrebounding the home team 44-35.
 
Kaleesha Joseph and Brooke Stanley led RIT with 21 points apiece. Alyssa Juergens posted a double-double on 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Sabrina Wolfe contributed 10 points. The Tigers (3-7, 1-2) shot 45.3 percent from the field, but struggled from deep, making just 3-of-18.
 
William Smith was locked in right from the opening tip, racing out to a 16-3 lead. Davis capped the five-minute run with back-to-back treys. Taylor Signor and Juergens hit consecutive shots to give RIT some momentum, but the Herons countered with 14 straight points to push their advantage to 30-8. Five different players contributed to the scoring surge.
 
Over the next two quarters, the Tigers chipped away at the William Smith lead, going into halftime trailing 49-34 and into the fourth quarter facing a 70-57 uphill climb.
 
The Herons still held a double digit advantage midway through the fourth frame, 78-64, but the Tigers used a mighty roar to force OT. Wolfe scored six points to key a 15-1 closing run. She hit the game-tying 3-pointer with about 15 seconds remaining. William Smith was unable to get a driving layup to fall at the buzzer.
 
In overtime, Parisi made the first basket, but RIT struck back with five points in a row to build an 84-81 lead. Parisi and DeVaney connected on consecutive buckets to restore the Heron lead midway through the extra five minutes. Juergens gave the Tigers their final lead near the two-minute mark, 86-85, but Davis answered 30 seconds later to put William Smith in front for good. Over the final 90 seconds, the Herons made just enough free throws, 3-of-7, to hold off RIT.
 
William Smith has won each of its past five overtime games. The Herons haven't lost in OT since January of 2015.
 
William Smith will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 11, when the Herons continue Liberty League play at Ithaca (6-3, 3-0). Tipoff is at 2 p.m.