The William Smith basketball team will be back in action this weekend as it hosts two conference games against Skidmore and Bard. The Herons will take on the Thoroughbreds Friday at 5:30 p.m., followed by a matchup with the Raptors Saturday at 2 p.m.

Prior to Saturday's game, a brief ceremony will be held to celebrate William Smith's lone senior, Molly Walsh, who will be honored for her contributions to the William Smith basketball team over the last four years. 

Fans who can't 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).

ABOUT THE HERONS: (2-19, 2-12 LL)

• William Smith is coming off a 91-59 loss at St. Lawrence on Saturday. Sophomores Ava Lobozzo and Giana Lobozzo led the Herons with 11 and 9 points, respectively. 
• Sophomore Amelia McCulley leads the team and ranks 10th in the Liberty League in scoring, averaging 11.3 ppg. She is followed by Giana Lobozzo, averaging 8.2 ppg.
• Ava Lobozzo grabs a team-leading 4.8 rebounds per game, ranking 25th in the conference. She is followed by Giana Lobozzo with 4.7 rpg and McCulley with 4.5 rpg. 
• McCulley is also ranked fourth in the conference in blocked shots, averaging 1.6 per game. She ranks seventh in the conference in 3-pointers per game (1.3), followed by Walsh (16th,1.0)
• Giana Lobozzo dishes out 2.2 assists per game which ranks 16th in the league.
• On the defensive end, Giana Lobozzo is third in the Liberty League in steals, averaging 2.3 per game. 

ABOUT THE THOROUGHBREDS: (10-11, 8-6 LL)

• Skidmore is coming off a 59-40 win against Bard on Saturday. 
• Claudia Schneider leads the team in scoring, averaging 8.5 ppg. She is followed by Cassie Davidson who averages 8.3 ppg.
• Sarah Chambers leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.5 per game. Emmy Plage follows close behind with 4.9 rpg. 
• Plage also leads the team in steals, averaging 2.0 spg. Madison Meyer leads the team in assists with an average of 2.0 apg, while Chambers chips in 1.2 blocks per game, ranking eighth in the conference. 

ABOUT THE RAPTORS: (2-19, 0-14 LL)

• Bard is coming off a 59-40 loss to Skidmore on Saturday.
• Erin Tobes leads the Raptors in scoring, averaging 8.4 ppg. She is followed by Lexi Miller with 8.0 ppg.
• Miller ranks fourth in the Liberty League in rebounding as she averages 8.4 rpg. She is followed by Tobes and Shirley Dong who average 5.1 rpg each.
• Dong also leads the team in assists and steals, averaging 2.3 apg and 1.5 spg. Miller chips in 1.0 bpg for Bard, ranking 10th in the conference. 
• Aislynn Dixon is fifth in the Liberty League in 3-pointers made per game, averaging 1.8. 

SERIES SNAPSHOT:

• This will be the 58th matchup between William Smith and Skidmore. The Herons lead the series 33-24, including a 17-11 edge in Geneva.
• Skidmore defeated William Smith 75-61 on Jan. 18 in Saratoga Springs. First-year Jojo Sulmasy led the Herons with 16 points and four rebounds, while sophomore Miranda Martin chipped in 10 points and two rebounds. 
• Saturday's game will be the 26th meeting between William Smith and the Bard. The Herons hold a 25-0 advantage in the series. 
• Earlier this season, William Smith defeated Bard 63-62 in Annandale-on-Hudson. McCulley led the team with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Sulmasy chipped in 11 points and six rebounds. Walsh added 10 points and three steals.