GENESEO, N.Y.—The William Smith basketball team made a triumphant return to the Wendy's College Classic tonight, breezing past Brockport 73-49 in Geneseo's Kuhl Gym. Junior forward Kristen Kush led the Herons with a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds.

William Smith (2-2) enjoyed the advantage in nearly every aspect of the game. The Herons, who are playing in the tournament for the first time since 2000, shot 44.8 percent from the floor, while limiting the Golden Eagles (1-2) to 36 percent. William Smith sank 30 percent of its three-point tries, while Brockport was just 1-of-8 from long range. The Herons were plus eight in rebounding margin and plus five in turnover margin.

William Smith charged out of the gate, scoring the first nine points of the game and 18 of the first 20. Kush netted the first two baskets of the game and scored eight points during the 18-2 run. The Herons never let their lead dip out of double figures.

With 10:30 left in the opening half, first-year guard Sasha Borenstein hit a three to put William Smith up 19, 25-6. The Herons twice more pushed their advantage to a first-half high of 19, 33-14 with 4:25 left on a layup by first-year guard Erin O'Brien and again on sophomore guard Jamie Rubin's three that sent William Smith into halftime with a 39-20 lead.

Kush led all scorers with 10 points at the break on 5-of-10 shooting. She was 8-of-14 for the game.

Brockport used a 10-2 run early in the second half to get within 16, 46-30, but first-year guard Jacqueline Murphy and Kush hit back-to-back baskets to quell the threat. The Golden Eagles got no closer the rest of the night.

Murphy, O'Brien, Rubin, senior guard Mollie Danahy and senior forward Ashlinn Barber all finished with eight points. Murphy pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, while Danahy posted game-highs of seven assists and five steals.

The Golden Eagles got 14 points from Kristin Abbott and 11 points from Ellen Story.

The Herons will be back in action on Thursday, Dec. 2, when they take on Rochester, a 56-45 winner over Nazareth, in the semifinals of the Wendy's College Classic. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. at Roberts Wesleyan. Tickets are $5 for general admission, $2 for students with valid ID. Children 10 and under are admitted free.