GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College basketball team will get an unexpected break from what was supposed to be a 52-day, nine-game road trip. The Herons' matchup against Hamilton College has been moved to Bristol Gymnasium. The non-conference game will tip off at noon on Thursday, Dec. 30.
 
The contest was originally scheduled to be played at Hamilton, but a campus-wide closure prompted the move to Geneva.
 
The game will be open to spectators. All visitors to Bristol Gym, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a properly fitting mask. Fans can also track the game online with live video on HWS All-Access and Live Stats.
 
William Smith (2-5) aims to rebound from a 70-67 overtime loss to Salisbury on Monday night. The Herons have three players averaging more than 14 points per game. Guard Brooke Jarvis leads the team and is second in the conference, producing 18.1 ppg as well as 8.6 rpg. Forward Olivia Parisi is third in the league scoring at a 17.6 ppg clip to go with 9.1 rpg. She leads the Liberty League in free throw percentage, making 93.5% from the stripe. Forward Lauren DeVaney contributes 14.1 ppg and a team-best 10.7 rpg. The trio has combined for 11 double-doubles through seven games.
 
Hamilton (5-3) heads west having won three straight, including an 81-38 triumph over Colby-Sawyer in the finale of the Norwich Tournament on Dec. 4. Guard Kelcie Zarle is the Continentals' leading scorer at 21.9 ppg. Forwards Maria Mercado Rengel and Emma Sehring add 9.5 ppg and 9.0 ppg, respectively. Sehring leads the team on the glass, averaging 6.5 rpg.
 
The game will be the 55th meeting between the two teams with the Herons holding a 39-15 series lead. William Smith is 18-8 against Hamilton in Bristol Gym. The Continentals won the most recent showdown 67-65 in Geneva on Dec. 11, 2019. Zarle made the game-winning basket with 13.1 seconds remaining.