Sophomore forward Stephanie Czajkowski (Bishop Ludden/Syracuse, N.Y.) nearly added a third double-double for the victors, finishing the night with 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Red Hawks also placed three players in double digits in the scoring column, led by first-year guard Whitney Coleman’s (Etiwanda/Etiwanda, Calif.) 15 points. First-year forward Kristin Danbury (Catholic Central/Grafton, N.Y.) and junior guard Kristi Baranowski (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.) added 14 and 11 points, respectively, for RPI.
William Smith (20-5) forced the Red Hawks (14-10) into 29 turnovers, including 19 by steals. The Herons dished out a season-high 24 assists on a season-high 32 field goals made en route to a season-high scoring total. William Smith shot 50.8 percent from the floor, including 10-of-19 from beyond the three-point arc.
Rensselaer, meanwhile, struggled to shoot just 32.8 percent, including a late-game, desperation-fueled 4-of-20 from long range.
The first half started off as a back-and-forth affair, with the score tied three times and both teams gaining the lead twice. The Herons scored the first eight points of the game and looked poised to run away with the contest early, but the Red Hawks roared back, taking a three-point lead (their largest of the game) with 8:04 remaining in the opening stanza.
Vespa hit a three-pointer (she was 4-for-4 from downtown) to tie the contest and ignite a 23-5 Heron run into halftime. William Smith scored the final 15 points of the half and led 43-28 at the intermission.
Young hit a three-pointer for the first points of the second half to make it 18 straight for the Herons, essentially putting her team on cruise control. William Smith led by as many as 29 and never let its lead dwindle below 13 after the break.
William Smith will host St. Lawrence (19-7) in the Liberty League Championship game for the second consecutive year. The second-seeded Saints advanced with a 52-47 win over No. 3 Union (17-8). Junior forward Andrea Muszynski (Mt. Mercy/Buffalo, N.Y.) scored 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and posted four blocks to pace St. Lawrence.
In the 2005 title game, The Herons earned their ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 68-55 win over the Saints.
The championship game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Feb. 25. Admission is free.
WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGE 87, RENSSELAER 63 RENSSELAER (14-10) Whitney Coleman 6-15 3-6 15; Kristin Danbury 5-8 4-4 14; Kristi Baranowski 3-8 4-4 11; Destany Eagles 3-11 0-2 9; Elizabeth Barker 3-7 1-2 7; Tory Lyons 0-3 4-6 4; Missy Jackman 1-7 0-2 2; Kerry Hayes 0-1 0-0 0; Kate Naske 0-1 0-0 0; Sarah Briggs 0-1 0-0 0; Caitlyn Charest 0-1 0-0 0; Brittney O'Neal 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-64 17-28 63. WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGE (20-5) Pria Young 6-13 5-6 21; Marisa Vespa 6-8 2-4 18; Stephanie Czajkowski 8-14 0-0 16; Paula Foote 3-7 2-2 8; Tanya Richvalsky 3-5 2-2 8; Emily Alcott 1-4 1-4 4; Paige Myers 1-1 0-0 3; Lauren Samuelson 1-2 1-2 3; Cindy Bors 1-2 0-0 2; Kristen Suatoni 1-1 0-0 2; Amanda Nann 1-4 0-0 2; Seraphine Hamilton 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 32-63 13-22 87. Halftime-William Smith 43-28. 3-point goals-Rensselaer 4-20 (Eagles 3-6; Baranowski 1-2; Jackman 0-4; Hayes 0-1; Charest 0-1; Danbury 0-3; Coleman 0-3), William Smith 10-19 (Vespa 4-4; Young 4-8; Myers 1-1; Alcott 1-4; Foote 0-2). Fouled out--None. Rebounds-Rensselaer 44 (Baranowski 9), William Smith 33 (Czajkowski 9). Assists-Rensselaer 14 (Jackman 5), William Smith 24 (Vespa 10). Total fouls-Rensselaer 19, William Smith 22. A-500