CANTON, NY- Hamilton's junior forward Pumla Sathula scored a game-high 23 points as the Hamilton Continentals defeated the Union College Dutchwomen, 70-52, in the semifinal round of the Liberty League Tournament held at St. Lawrence University Friday evening.

 

Sophomore center Rachel Ormsby (Charlton, NY/ Burnt Hills) led the Dutchwomen (13-12) with 11 points and eight rebounds, while junior forward Devon Ciliberto (New Paltz, NY/ New Paltz) scored nine points and collected nine rebounds. Union outrebounded the second-seeded Continentals, 32-30.

 

Hamilton (18-7) controlled the game from the start, jumping out to a 24-9 lead early in the first half. Union rallied with a 20-12 run to cut Hamilton's lead to 36-29 at the intermission. Union out-rebounded Hamilton 18-13 in the first half, but Sathula scored 12 first-half points to lead the Continentals.

 

Hamilton extended its margin to 43-32, six minutes into the second half, and held its largest lead with a 54-34 advantage with 9:39 left in the game.

 

Behind Sathula's 23 points and 10 rebounds, sophomore center Sydney Fasulo scored 15 points and pulled down four rebounds. Sophomore guard Molly Kane added 11 points to round out the Continentals scoring in double-digits. Hamilton shot 45 percent (19-of-42) from the field.

 

Hamilton will face St. Lawrence University, who defeated William Smith College 69-64, at 3 p.m. on Saturday for the championship game.