Worcester State 63, William Smith 52
Williamstown, MA --- Worcester State defeated William Smith this evening 63-52 to advance to the Williams Holiday Tournament Championship game at 3 PM tomorrow. The Lancers were paced by Reilly O'Keefe's (Warren, MA) game-best 18 points while Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, MA) tallied 11 second-half points.
The Herons will play Emerson in the consolation game tomorrow at 1 PM.
Junior Alexis George (Worcester, MA) registered 13 points with five assists while freshman Kara Rogers (Lowell, MA) chipped in with 11 points and five steals. Senior Bri Flanders (Southampton, MA) had a solid night as she grabbed a team-best eight boards.
For William Smith, sophomore Kristen Kush (Fulton, NY) paced the attack with a squad-high 11 points while junior Molly Danahy (Troy, NY) and freshman Jamie Rubin (Damarest, NY) each contributed with 10 points apiece. Ashlinn Barber (Spencer, NY) came down with eight boards. Danahy also handed out three assists while she swiped four balls.
The opening stanza was a battle for the first 10 minutes as the lead changed hands seven times before WSC (4-2) settled for a eight point edge with 7:18 remaining (22-14). The Herons (1-2) then scored five straight points over a 2 1/2 minute span to get within three.
O'Keefe canned a pair of free throws to bring the advantage back to five before Rubin converted a jumper to close the period with the Lancers ahead 24-21 at the break.
Worcester State's lead was short lived as William Smith went on a 12-5 run to open up a 35-28 edge with 12:39 left in regulation. With the Herons ahead 41-32 at the 10:49 mark, the Lancers whittled away at the lead and went on a 12-4 spurt to trail by one with 6:57 remaining (45-44).
Three lead changes occured when a pair of Charette field goals sandwiched a Kush layup as the Blue and Gold seized the moment and took the lead for good at 48-47. It was at this point that the Lancers went on a 15-5 run to close out the contest.
Despite being held scoreless for a three minute span in the last six minutes of the game, William Smith trailed by eight points with 1:30 to go, but missed four three-point attempts in the waning seconds as the Lancers hit three of their last five free throw attempts for the final score.
The Herons were held to just 36% shooting for the game
(30-for-55) and they made just one of their 17 three-point
attempts. After connecting for 34.5% from the field in the opening
stanza, the Lancers improved to make 52% of their shots in the
second period (13-for-25).
Worcester State held slim margins in rebounds (37-35), points in
the paint (26-22) and second chance points (10-9). William Smith
forced 25 Lancer turnovers courtesy of 16 steals and their bench
outscored WSC 17-4.
Tomorrow's contest against Williams will feature audio and livestats.