The St. Lawrence University women's basketball team defeated Bard College by the score of 55-47 on Friday night in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Rookie Caroline Dalton scored 12 points and added a game-high five blocks, while senior Kelly Legg and junior Kara McDuffee each scored in double figures.

The Saints (8-4, 4-0) held a comfortable 29-14 lead at intermission after shooting 46% from the field, only to see the Raptors (1-13, 0-5) respond in the second half. The home team pulled within six on several occasions thanks to 15 second-chance points, but failed to pull even with St. Lawrence.

"We were unemotional tonight and it showed in our play. In the first half, we were fundamentally sound on defense which translated to some easy baskets," said St. Lawrence head coach Dan Roiger. "In the second half, our poor play combined with being flat just turned into bad basketball. We need to learn to be stronger mentally if we are going to reach our potential and be one of the top Liberty League teams in 2014."

Bard was led by a 20-point night form Tytravia Riley, who also had a game-high 14 rebounds. McDuffee had 10 points and nine rebounds, while Legg added a team-high 13 points, eight boards and three blocks.

Bard battled early and held a 10-9 lead 7:12 into the first half, only to see St. Lawrence rattle off a 20-4 lead to close the half. Dalton led the way in the period with six points and three blocks, while McDuffee added five points, including a three in the final minute to stretch the lead to 29-14 at the intermission.

St. Lawrence seemed poised to pull away early in the second half, as Legg and McDuffee added buckets for a game-high 18-point lead. However, Riley and Liz Freud kept the Raptors in the game, including a three pointer from Freud with 10:34 to play to pull the home team within nine at 38-29.

Though Bard would get within six with 3:26 to play, the Saints defense clamped down and got a few stops, while McDuffee made free throws to push the lead back to eight, 51-43, with 1:13 to play. Riley would again make it a six point game with a lay-in, but Dalton put it away with a jumper with :30 seconds left to solidify the Saints' Liberty League win.

St. Lawrence will take on perennial Liberty League contender Vassar College tomorrow, Saturday, January 25 in Poughkeepsie, NY at 2:00pm.