Brunt’s career-high leads William Smith over RPI

Sophomore Leia Brunt scored a game-high 16 points to lead the William Smith College basketball team to a 64-54 Liberty League win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this afternoon. She was 5-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-8 at the free throw line while also contributing a career-high seven rebounds.

Junior Maddie Patrick joined Brunt in double digits, posting 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Senior Brooke Jarvis and First-year Amelia McCulley chipped in nine points each. Patrick and Jarvis also blocked two shots apiece.

Junior Julia Rowe had 12 points and seven boards to pace the Engineers. Classmate Siena Smith added 10 points for RPI.

KEY STATS

• William Smith made a season-high 19 free throws. In fact, the Herons made more free throws than Rensselaer attempted (14).
• William Smith also committed a season-low 13 fouls and a season-low 15 turnovers.
• The Herons held Rensselaer to a season-low 25.4% shooting effort from the field, including just 9.1% in the fourth quarter.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• RPI opened the game on a 12-4 run to build their largest lead of the first half.
• A 14-5 run spanning the final two minutes of the first quarter and four minutes into the second saw William Smith grab its first lead of the game. Amelia McCulley capped the run with a 3-pointer to put the Herons up 18-17.
• William Smith carried a 27-26 lead into halftime.
• RPI’s Siena Smith led all scorers at the break with seven points. Leia Brunt paced the Herons with six points.
• It was a back-and-forth second half with RPI carrying a 45-44 edge into the final frame.
• William Smith put the game away with a 10-3 run over the final four minutes of the contest. McCulley kicked off the finishing surge with a 3-pointer that gave the home team a 57-51 lead with 3:47 to go.

FOR THE RECORD

• William Smith picked up its first win of the season to improve to 1-7, 1-2 in the Liberty League.
• With the loss, RPI slips under .500 to 4-5 overall, 1-2 in league play.

UP NEXT

• The Herons will be off for final exams…