Capello, Saints Clinch Share of Conference Crown, 78-60, Over Herons

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Tara Freeman
Casey Capello '12 and the Saints clinched a share of the Liberty League title on Friday.

Feb. 3:  The St. Lawrence University women's basketball team extended its win-streak to 13 games with a 78-60 victory over William Smith in Liberty League action on Friday night.  With the win, the Saints have clinched at least a share of the 2011-12 Liberty League regular season championship, and will win the conference outright with any victory or Vassar loss in the coming weeks. 

St. Lawrence, now 16-4 and 12-0 in the conference, was led by senior co-captain Casey Capello's game-high 19 points, three assists and two steals, while sophomore Kelly Legg had 15 points, four steals and two blocks. Sophomore Cassie St. Hilaire added nine points, and seniors Iris Santoni, Katie Edgerton and first-year student Kara McDuffee combined for 19 points. 

"That was a super game for us to win a conference title with," said St. Lawrence head coach Dan Roiger.  "We talked prior to the game on how great it would feel if we could walk off the court knowing we had clinched a share and played our best game, and I felt like we did that.  We had great intensity throughout the first half and well into the second half.  And we executed our game plan very well throughout the game, and made solid adjustments as the game progressed.  I really like the intelligence the team is starting to bring to the court."

William Smith took its first lead of the game on an 8-0 run midway through the first half on back-to-back 3-pointers by Sasha Borenstein and Sydni Salvatore, 23-19.  The Saints answered with a 3-pointer by Capello, followed with a layup by McDuffee at 6:57 to go back on top for good, 24-23.  The home team finished the first half on an 18-9 run to take a 42-32 lead into the break. 

St. Lawrence, which stretched its lead to as many as 21 points, would not allow William Smith within single digits for the remainder of the game.  The Saints finished with a 25-10 advantage in points off turnovers as they forced 20 Heron turnovers.

St. Lawrence will battle RIT tomorrow at 2:00pm in the Burkman Gymnasium.