The William Smith College basketball team opens up the new year hosting two Liberty League matchups this weekend. The Herons will take on RIT on Friday at 5:30 p.m., followed by No. 25 Ithaca on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Bristol Gymnasium.
 
Fans who cannot make it to Bristol Gymnasium this weekend can follow the action with HWS All-Access Video and Live Stats. The games will be broadcast on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).
 
William Smith is 2-7 after splitting action in the 2022 Clasico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to close out the year. The Herons fell to Edgewood College 65-60 before defeating the University of Maine, Presque Isle 64-58 the following day.
 
Senior Lauren DeVaney was named the Liberty League Performer of the Week after combining for 32 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and two blocks between the two games. First-year Faith Okoli was named the league's Co-Rookie of the Week after posting a career-high 13 points, seven rebounds and two steals in the win against the Owls.

ABOUT THE HERONS

• The Herons currently sit at 2-7 on the season with an 0-2 mark in the Liberty League.
• Junior Brooke Jarvis leads the team, averaging 15.2 points per game, followed by DeVaney with 11.7 points per game.
• DeVaney averages a team-leading 7.6 rebounds per game, followed by Jarvis with 7.0 and sophomore Maddie Patrick with 6.6.
• Jarvis currently sits at second in the league in points per game, while DeVaney is seventh.
• Both Jarvis and DeVaney are in the top-10 in the conference for rebounds per game as well.

ABOUT THE TIGERS

• RIT enters Friday night's matchup with a 4-5 record after falling to No. 13 Rochester 88-36 on Tuesday.
• The Tigers are currently 2-0 in conference play.
• Emma Waite leads RIT, averaging 15.1 points per game followed by Andreja Peciuraite with 14.8.
• Peciuraite averages a team-leading 5.8 rebounds per game, followed by Abigail Smith with 4.7.

 
ABOUT THE BOMBERS

• Ithaca enters the weekend with a 7-2 overall record and 2-0 in the conference and will head to Troy for a Friday night showdown with RPI before heading to Geneva on Saturday.
• The Bombers are coming off a 57-44 win over Hamilton College on Monday.
• Ithaca is currently ranked No. 25 in the most recent WBCA national poll and is receiving votes in the D3hoops.com poll.
• Natalie Smith and Emily Dorn lead the Bombers, averaging 9.7 points per game, followed by Cara Volpe with 8.1.
• Lindsay Albertelli averages a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per game, followed by Annabella Yorio with 6.6.

 
SERIES SNAPSHOTS

• William Smith and RIT will face off for the 43rd time on Friday. The Herons lead the series 29-13, including a 14-7 record against the Tigers in Geneva.
• The Herons and Tigers split the series last season, with William Smith defeating RIT 70-53 in Rochester on Jan. 7, 2022, followed by a 74-64 Tigers win over the Herons in Geneva on Jan. 29, 2022.
• William Smith and Ithaca will face off for the 52nd time on Saturday. The Bombers lead the series 28-23 despite the Herons holding a 14-11 advantage in Geneva.
• Ithaca swept the series last season, defeating William Smith 82-52 in Ithaca on Jan. 8, 2022, followed by a 75-55 win in Geneva on Jan. 28, 2022.