SCHENECTADY,NY William Smith scored the game's first 14 points, held off a second-half charge that saw Union pull to within three points, and the Herons went on to defeat the Dutchwomen, 57-41, in a key Liberty League showdown at the Viniar Athletic Center.

The win marked the second time in the last five games that the Herons have defeated the Dutchwomen, who came into the contest having won nine of their last games.  The victory enabled William Smith, which won the initial meeting, 73-59, on January 22, to pull within one-half game of league-leading Union (St. Lawrence, a 72-58 winner over Rensselaer, is also 6-2 in the circuit).  The Herons are 6-2 in the circuit and 11-7 overall while the Dutchwomen are 7-2, 14-5.  It was also the Garnet's first loss in seven game in the brand new Viniar Center.

Pria Young scored eight points during the Herons' opening run helping the visitors to a 14-0 lead with 14:59 on the clock.  Union got to within seven, 17-10, with 10:20 left on a layup by Sarah Krammen before the Herons used a basket by Stephanie Czajkowski to go up by 13, 28-15, with 2:03 left in the first half.  Erika Eisenhut's layup at the buzzer cut Union deficit to nine, 30-21.

Senior forward Katyln Cunningham, who scored 11 points and now needs just two to become the seventh member of the Dutchwomen's 1,000-Point Club, started Union on an 8-0 run that brought the Garnet back to within 34-31 with 9:32 left.  Cunningham coupled a basket with a free throw at 13:13 before sophomore forward Krystal Hammond knocked down a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game.

That was a close as the Dutchwomen would get, however, as the Herons scored 11 of the game's next 13 points to build a 45-34 advantage with 4:51 showing.  Marisa Vespa tallied four points from the free throw line, Paula Foote scored five consecutive points on two charity shots and a three-point field gal and Tara Brisson knocked down a jumper to give the Herons their double digit lead. 

Union got back to within seven, 45-38, on a pair of three throws by Cunningham before Brisson's layup with 3:34 left started William Smith on an 8-0 run that made it 53-38 with 1:46 left.

Brisson finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for the Herons while Vespa scored 13 points, 11 of which came from the free throw line.

Erika Eisenhut had 10 points and nine rebounds for Union, which saw Cunningham pull down a game-high 13 rebounds.