SAINTS ARE LIBERTY LEAGUE CO-CHAMPIONS AFTER OVERTIME WIN OVER HERONS

Feb. 18: The St. Lawrence Women’s Basketball team bested William Smith at home in overtime, 60-57. With the win, the Saints move to 12-2 in league, and 18-7 overall. William Smith will enter the league tournament 19-5 overall, and 12-2 in conference.

The first half started with a lot of back and forth basketball, as the lead changed hands 4 times in the first five minutes of play. After William Smith took control thanks to a three-pointer from Pria Young, they would hold the lead throughout the first half, and finish with a 7 point advantage at 29-22. Stephanie Czajkowski scored 10 points in the first 20 minutes for the Herons and grabbed 5 rebounds. She would finish the day leading all scorers with 16 points, and recording 12 rebounds for a double-double.

The Herons controlled the tempo for most of the second half, until two back to back lay-ups from Nora Curley turned the tables in SLU’s favor with just over 7:30 left in regulation. Tanya Richvalski tied the game for the Herons with just over 2 minutes to play, but Andrea Muszynski scored 4 points to put the Saints on top with less than a minute to play. They held that lead until Marisa Vespa hit a running lay-up to tie it and force overtime with less than five seconds to play.

In overtime, Jamie Wolff hit four clutch free throws down the stretch to fight off a Paula Foote three pointer and seal the deal for SLU.

Muszynski scored 14 points for the Saints and added 12 rebounds. Wolff finished with 12 points, and Curley ended with 10 points. For the Herons, Foote was also in double digits with 14.

The conference tournament will be held at William Smith Feb. 24-25 in Geneva, NY. The Herons are hosting the tournament based on their record vs common non-league opponents (Ithaca and Rochester), and the times are still to be determined.

SAINTS ROLL AT HOME 68-49 OVER HAMILTON

Feb. 17: The St. Lawrence Women’s Basketball team beat Hamilton at home Friday night 68-49, to clinch second place in the Liberty League and move to 11-7 in the League, and 17-7 overall. With the loss, Hamilton falls to 5-8 in league, and 8-15 on the year.

In the first half of play, the game went back and forth until the Saints were able to pull away with just over six minutes to play. Sarah Schrader brought Hamilton within 3 with a lay-up, but Jamie Wolff scored 9 points in the last four minutes of the first half to boost the Saints into the locker room. At the break, the lead was SLU 33, Hamilton 23.

Hamilton kept it close and were in the game, only down by four, with just over nine minutes to play, but Kim Sikule hit a couple of three pointers in the next three minutes to help the Saints run away with the game.

At the end, Andrea Muszynski ended with a game high 20 points, and 6 steals. Wolff came in next with 18 points, shooting a perfect 9-9 from the stripe. She also added 3 assists and 3 steals. Sikule also finished in double digits with 13 points, shooting a perfect 3 of 3 from behind the arc, and a team high 6 rebounds.

For Hamilton, Laura Wetmore scored 10 points; and Madelyn McGuinnis also had 10 points and 6 rebounds.

The Saints will look to close out their regular season schedule tomorrow at 2:00pm against William Smith at home. Hamilton will travel to face Clarkson at 2:00pm.