William Smith basketball fell 66-57 to Clarkson in a Liberty League matchup on Friday night, despite a strong all-around performance from junior Amelia McCulley.
McCulley led the Herons with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, knocking down all three of her attempts from beyond the arc. She also grabbed a team-high six rebounds, blocked three shots and added two steals. Senior Carly Scott provided a spark from deep, finishing with nine points on three 3-pointers. William Smith dropped to 2-12 overall and 0-7 in conference play.
The Herons closed the first quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 15-8 lead, with Scott and McCulley accounting for all the scoring during the surge. Clarkson responded in the second quarter, opening the period on a 12-2 run before William Smith briefly reclaimed the lead. McCulley’s 3-pointer put the Herons ahead 23-20, but the Knights finished the half strong to carry a 30-28 advantage into the break.
Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, which ended tied at 43-43. Clarkson found its rhythm in the final period, shooting 63.6 percent from the floor and using a decisive 10-2 run to build a nine-point cushion. Scott’s late 3-pointer cut the deficit to five, but Clarkson sealed the win at the free-throw line.
Fallon Griffin and Addie Kea paced the Knights with 19 points apiece, while Griffin recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds as Clarkson held a 42-32 edge on the glass.
William Smith continues its road weekend on Saturday at St. Lawrence, with tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].