SCHENECTADY, NY -- Senior forward Katie Palmer (Bourne, MA) scored a career high 38 points with 12 rebounds and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2009 Liberty League Women's Basketball Tournament to lead St. Lawrence to a 71-61 title game win over host Union Saturday at the Viniar Athletic Center. The Saints (19-7) won their second straight title and made their fifth straight tourney title appearance. St. Lawrence receives the automatic NCAA playoff bid with the win. Union (19-7), which had defeated the Saints in the two regular season meetings, will await a possible at large bid.

Palmer had four steals and made 13 of 15 free throws in her dominant performance. She wound up with 50 points, 18 rebounds, seven steals and six assists for the tournament. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammate and senior guard Lauren Sischo (Rodman, NY). Also on the team were Union's Michelle Rogers and Lauren McCormick, with RPI's Whitney Coleman.

Sischo had nine points in the title game win, after leading her team with 14 in the semifinal win over RPI. She also had three steals. The Saints shot 40% for the game and won despite being outrebounded the the Dutchwomen, 37-32. 

McCormick led Union with 20 points while Rogers posted a double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Selin Whitham had a game high 10 assists for the Dutchwomen. Union shot 42% for the day.

The Saints had three six point leads in the early going in the first half, including 17-11 with 8:13 left. Union pulled to within two with a 8-2 run in the next 3:45, but St. Lawrence then went on a 10-2 run for a 29-19 lead with 59 seconds left in the first half. The visitors had a 31-22 lead entering the break. Palmer scored 20 of the Saints' 31 first half points, while Rogers had seven points and seven rebounds at halftime.

After two free throws by Abby Stanton (Avon, NY) 1:57 into the second half, the Saints once again had a 10 point advantage (35-25). Union then scored seven straight to pull to within three at 35-32 with 16:45 left. The run was capped by a three pointer by Rachel Scott. But that was the closest the Dutchwomen would get in looking for their first tourney title since the 2003-04 season. Palmer took over again with four free throws and an assist during a 9-2 run in a span of 3:48 for a 44-34 Saint lead with 12:56 left. St. Lawrence had leads of 12 twice the rest of the contest.

The NCAA selections are expected to be announced Monday morning at 11 a.m. live on www.ncaa.com.

Tournament Webpage and Box Score