GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith basketball team rang in the New Year with an 86-44 win over SUNY Potsdam in Bristol Gym tonight. The Herons had four players reach double figures in the scoring column led by junior forward Kristen Kush's game-high 19 points.

William Smith (5-6) shot 41.4 percent from the floor, including 45.2 percent in the first half, while limiting the Bears to just 32.1 percent shooting, just 17.4 percent in the opening stanza.

Kush finished the game 8-of-14 from the floor and 3-of-5 from the line. Senior guard Mollie Danahy added 16 points, six rebounds, and a game-high four steals, while sophomore guard Sydni Salvatore recorded 15 points, a game-high nine rebounds, and four assists. First-year guard Sasha Borenstein chipped in 14 points off the bench, including four of William Smith's nine 3-pointers.

First-year forward Jessica Kouzan was the only Potsdam player to hit double digits, finishing with 11 points.

Bears' junior forward Kaley Arsenault scored the game's opening basket to give the visitors their first and only lead of the night. The Herons rattled off the next 18 points to seize control. Danahy fueled the opening run with seven points, including the 3-pointer that put her team in the lead for good. From there, William Smith's lead fluctuated between 14 and 36 points on the way to a 47-13 halftime lead.

The Herons came out flat in the second half, while Potsdam (1-8) made some strategic adjustments that allowed the Bears to whittle their deficit down to 23 on a traditional 3-point play by Kouzan with 12:33 remaining. 

William Smith squashed any hope of a comeback with a 22-2 run over the next six minutes, ballooning its lead to 43, 79-36. By the time Potsdam ended a more than six minute scoring draught, the final result was all but decided.

The Herons will begin Liberty League play on Monday, Jan. 10, when they host Hamilton at 6 p.m. in Bristol Gym. WHWS-FM (105.7) will broadcast the game live, while online coverage will include Live Stats and All-Access Video.