GENEVA, NY -- The RIT (5-6, 1-1 Liberty League) women's basketball team dropped its first conference game of the season, losing 80-52 at William Smith College (10-2, 3-0 Liberty League) on Tuesday evening. Sophomore #Ashlynn Palmitesso (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley)# led RIT with 11 points.

The Tigers fell behind by 10 early in the first half and trailed 38-19 at the break. RIT went without a field goal over the final 6:06 of the first half. Palmitesso led RIT with five first-half points, while #Jess Kramer (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt)# tallied four for the Tigers, who shot 18.2 percent from the floor in the opening half.

RIT shot 25 percent from the floor overall on 18-of-72 shooting. The Tigers made 5-of-22 from behind the arc and were 11-of-19 from the foul line.

#Mallory Apperson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove)# scored eight points for the Tigers, grabbed four rebounds and had three assists, one block and a steal. Kramer and freshman #Sydney Frank (Haverford, PA/Friends' Central)# each added seven points for the Tigers.

William Smith held a 59-36 rebounding edge over RIT, scoring 17 second-chance points. Chloe Hayter and Jacqueline Murphy led the Herons with 13 points apiece.

RIT returns to action on Friday, January 17 at 6 p.m. at Bard College.