CANTON, NY -- Kara McDuffie scored 21 points with 20 rebounds to lead top seeded St. Lawrence University to a 74-65 victory over #4 seed Union College in a Liberty League Semifinal Game at Burkman Gymnasium Wednesday night. The Saints (20-6) host Skidmore Saturday at 3 p.m. in the league's title game.

The Dutchwomen, who had won eight straight league games to end the regular season, lost for just the second time in 10 games and finish 17-9.

Natale Leone led Union with 15 points and Kate Thompson had 14, while each player pulled down seven rebounds. Amy Fisher led the Dutchwomen with eight rebounds, one shy of her career high. Jenni Barra, Abby Katz and Erin Lyons had seven points each and Thompson added three steals and three assists. The Dutchwomen shot 42% and were outrebounded by jsut three, 44-41 as McDuffee had nearly half of the Saints' rebounds. Union did not make a three pointer in five attempts on the night.

Kaelyn Kohlasch had a career high 24 points for the Saints, with 18 of those points coming from her six for 10 three point shooting. She also had six assists and three steals. McDuffee, who posted three double-doubles against Union this season, had five steals. Allison Cady added nine points and the Saints also shot 42%.

St. Lawrence started strong with an 8-0 start in the first 2:29. The Saints were up by 10 at 15-5 with 14:50 left after a jumper by Kohlasch, but the Dutchwomen got as close as five in the first half at 23-18 with 9:19 remaining in the first half after two free throws and four straight points by Thompson. St. Lawrence got back up by 10 at 36-26 with 1:58 to play in the half and went into the break with a nine point advantage, 40-31. McDuffie had 11 pionts and 12 boards in the first 20 minutes, and Kohlasch had scored 16 points in the half while Thompson led Union with nine heading into the locker room.

The Dutchwomen opened the second half with a run that quieted the Burkman Gym crowd. Union went on an 11-1 run in the first 4:36 of the half, tying it at 41-41 with a rebound and follow up layup by Katz. The Saints had not scored until 3:48 into the second half on a free throw. Union took the lead for the first time at 46-42 with 13:27 left on the board, after a Leone layup. The Dutchwomen led by as many as five after a Lyons jumper with 8:54 left made it 54-49 for the guests. Thus, after a four point deficit with 14:29 left (45-41), Union went on a 13-4 run over a span of 5:35. Union's last lead was on a layup by Fisher with 6:11 to play making it 58-57. But after a Union time out, the Saints went on a run of 10-0 over a span of 2:29. Back came the Dutchwomen as a Lyons three point play with 1:48 left made it a four point deficit at 67-63, but the Saints held on a won by nine to advance to the title game at home.

The game marked the ends of the careers of Union seniors Meghan Erdman and Kate Thompson. Thompson ended her oustanding career with 137 blocks, ranking third all-time at Union, 660 rebounds (sixth all-time) and 902 points (15th all-time). 

Union's 17 wins were the most in a season since the 19 victories in the 2008-09 season.