Box Score SCHENECTADY, N.Y.Brittany Gaetano's three-point field goal with 5:44 left broke a 44-44 tie and St. Lawrence went on to defeat Union, 55-51, in a key Liberty League women's basketball game at the Viniar Athletic Center.
The loss, coupled with William Smith's 57-40 victory over Rensselaer, ends the Dutchwomen's one year reign as the circuit's regular-season champions. William Smith and St. Lawrence are now tied for the top spot at 10-3 with one game remaining. One of them will host next week's tournament with the eventual champion representing the Liberty League in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Junior forward Courtney Shepard followed Gaetano's tre with a layup to cut Union's deficit to one before Andrea Muszysnki's two free throws put the Saints back up by three. Senior guard Melissa Marra's layup with 3:37 showing again brought Union back to within one, 49-48, before back-to-back layups by
Gaetano and Meredith Pridgen gave the 14-8 Saints a 53-48 advantage with 1:46 to play.
Senior forward Katlyn Cunningham's layup with 52 seconds showing cut the Saints' lead to 53-50 and her free throw with 42 tickes left brought Unjion to within two, 53-51. But Union, which is now 9-4 in the circuit and 16-7 overall, missed a layup and a three-point field goal, the later coming with one second showing, before Gaetano rounded out the final margin by connecting on two free throws.
The Saints, who are now 14-8 overall, broke an 11-11 tie by outscoring the Dutchwomen 15-5 over a six minute span to take a 26-16 lead with 3:38 left in the first half as Jessica Zuk converted Nora Curley's pass into a three-point field goal. Muszynski started the run by connecting on a pair of free throws before a three-pointer by Gaetano preceded a layup by Pridgen and a layup by Zuk that gave St. Lawrence a 20-11 lead with 5:48 showing.
Two free throws by sophomore forward Krystal Hammond and a three-pointer by Cunningham brought the Dutchwomen back to within four, 20-16, with 4:33 left, before Zuk knocked down consecutive field goals from outside the arch to give the Saints their 10-point advantage.
Cunninghman started Union's comeback by scoring on a layup before senior guard Melissa Marra connected on a long three with 2:13 to bring Union back to within five, 26-21, with 2:13 remaining. Senior forward Emily Scott hit a jumper with 1:11 left and Courtney Shepard hit two free throws with 47 ticks showing as Union climbed to within one, 26-25, at the break.
Gaetano finished with a game-high 18 points for the Saints while Zuk contributed 13 points and Muszynski 10. Pridgen pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
Union was led by Emily Scott's 11 points while Cunningham added 10 points and a team-high eight boards.
