Gallery: (1-17-2025) Women's Basketball vs William Smith
ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — The Bard College women's basketball team fell to William Smith in a thrilling game, as the Herons claimed victory over the Raptors 63-62 in a Liberty League match on Friday night at Stevenson Athletic Center.
Bard had three starters in double-digits, including a career-high night for
Aislynn Dixon. Dixon tied the most three-pointers made by a Raptor in a game, going 7-of-9 from behind the arc. She shares the record with Jess Rylander (vs RIT 1/18/20) and Kalliopi Papadaki (vs St. Joseph's 2/1/07). She was a rebound shy from tying her career-high of eight with seven boards while adding three assists and a steal.
Lexi Miller had her third double-double of the season with a team-high 14 rebounds and added 15 points. Miller had two assists, two blocks, a steal, and only one turnover.
Erin Tobes also had 15 points. She added six boards and a team-high five assists.
Shirley Dong contributed with nine rebounds, three assists, a block, a steal, and five points.
The Raptors took charge of the game from the jump and led by as much as 13 points, but William Smith fought their way back into the game and rallied back in the fourth quarter with five minutes left. The Raptors were down by two possessions with less than five seconds left.
Aislynn Dixon made the buzzer-beater three pointer and could not get a foul to tie the game as Bard fell by one point. It is the first time since the 2013-14 season that Bard dropped to a Liberty League team by one point. Bard fell to RIT in overtime, 71-70, on February 8, 2014.
Bard came out hot in the first quarter, taking a 9-3 lead after four minutes of play. William Smith tied the game up at 12-12 with a minute left and made a pair of free throws to go up by two heading into the second quarter. The second quarter was all Bard as the Raptors scored 18 points and held the Herons to only two field goals made (2-of-18). Bard had a nine-point lead heading into halftime.
After halftime, William Smith scored 21 points each quarter and had an 18-16 rebound advantage. The Herons cleaned up on the defensive end and scored 16 points off turnovers. With less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, William Smith had a five-point advantage, but the Raptors made it into a one-possession game with a contested three-pointer from Dixon. The Herons' Ava Lobozzo made 1-of-2 free throws with 18 seconds left to go three points clear. Bard was unable to make a three-point play and had to foul Ava Lobozzo again, who went 1-for-2 from the line, which was enough to give the Herons the win.
Bard will return tomorrow as they take on RPI at 2 p.m.
