Box Score

CANTON, NY -- Sydni Salvatore scored 20 points with 10 rebounds and Kristen Kush also had a double double with 13 points and 11 boards to lead William Smith College to a 76-64 victory over Union College in a Liberty League Tournament Semifinal Game at St. Lawrence's Burkman Gymnasium Friday night. The Herons, 16-10 overall, will face either top seed an host St. Lawrence or Vassar tomorrow at 3 p.m. for the Championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Mollie Danahy scored 12 points and Erin O'Brien added 11 for the Herons, who sthot 47% for the night while holding the Dutchwomen to 37% from the floor. Both teams had 37 rebounds for the contest.

Union was led by Lauren McCormick, as the senior scored 20 points in her final contest.  She finished with 1,026 career points, ranking 10th all-time in Union annals. McCormick's total of 569 rebounds in her career places her ninth all-time in that category at Union.

Senior Leah Pepe wrapped up with 12 points and freshman Brittney Kenney also scored 12 along with a team high six rebounds. Lauren Hennessey, the other tri-captain with McCormick and Pepe, closed out her career with six points.

The Dutchwomen led 7-6 after a three pointer by Lindsay Hage with 13:21 remaining in the first half. But the Herons went on a 21-6 run for a 27-13 lead after Erin O'Brien hit two free throws with 4:49 remaining. Sydni Salvatore hit two three pointers during that run. Union came back in the next 2:48 with an 8-0 to pull to within six at 27-21. McCormick had six points in that spurt. But the Herons got a layup from Salvatore, and after a three pointer by Sasha Borenstein with one minute remaining, had a 32-21 lead to take into the half.

William Smith got up by as many as 19 in the second half, at 46-27 after a three pointer by O'Brien with 16:09 left in the half. But the Dutchwomen went on a 17-5 run in a span of 5:17 and pulled to within seven at 5144 on a Pepe three. Union was down by six with 1:08 left on a free throw by Kenney, but as the Dutchwomen fouled looking to get the ball back in the final minute, the Herons made six free throws en route to the victory.

With a roster that included 11 freshmen, Union Coach Mary Ellen Burt led the Dutchwomen to 14 regular season wins and nine conference wins. She had her team on top of the league throughout the conference season right up to the final day. This is Union's 11th winning season in 12 years, and the 11th playoff appearance in 12 seasons. Union had a seven game winning streak and led the league in rebounding defense and rebounding margin. The Dutchwomen were in the top two in five league categories.