Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Amanda Zakoske (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School)'s career night was not enough as the Smith College basketball team suffered their first loss of 2011 with a 59-55 defeat to Clark University on Thursday night.

The game, which was delayed by 24 hours thanks to the the snowstorm that dumped 14 inches of snow on Western Massachusetts, got off to a nip-and-tuck start.  Zakoske grabbed the opening tip and coasted in for a layup, only to see the Cougars (5-9, 4-3 NEWMAC) respond by scoring six of the next 10 points to level the score on a pair of free throws by Maggie Croft. 

Smith (7-6, 4-3 NEWMAC) opened up their biggest lead of the game at 22-17 on a foul shot by Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth), but Clark countered with a 12-2 run to close out the half, limiting Smith to just two field goals in the final 10:51 of the frame.  Kate Minister drained a three that tied the game at 24, and Ivori Aiken followed suit with a triple from the left wing that put Clark in front, and the Cougars carried a 29-24 lead into intermission.

Clark picked up where they left off, getting a fast break layup from Emily Reilly for the first points of the half that opened up a seven point lead, but Smith rebounded from three turnovers in the opening minutes of the half with a 7-2 run capped by Zakoske's hoop and free throw that leveled the score at 33 with 15:37 to play.  After the teams traded two free throws each by Zakoske and Megan Grondin tied the game for the ninth time, Clark eked out to a 42-37 lead on a Grondin bucket and two free throws by Michelle Chambers.

Smith would not go away, cutting the deficit to 50-48 when Marissa Munoz-Ruiz (Fairfield, Calif./Justin-Siena) found Ashani Petrizzi (Deerfield, Mass./Greenfield) in the lane for a short jumper, then found Devon Quattrocchi (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster), making her first appearance of the New Year, in the corner for a three that gave Smith a 51-50 lead with 4:12 to play.

A Zakoske basket extended the advantage to 53-50 with only 1:40 remaining, but Clark would not be denied, closing the margin to one with two free throws by Reilly, and a traditional three point play by Ashleigh Condon that put the Cougars in front for good.  Smith had two chances to tie the game, but a missed three pointer and an offensive foul put the game out of reach, and Grondin and Minister each hit two free throws to seal the win.

Zakoske set a new career high with 19 points on 8-14 shooting from the floor to lead all scorers.  Grondin paced the Cougars with 14 points, while Reilly added 12 and Condon had 10.  Reily led all players with nine rebounds, as Clark held a 42-35 advantage on the glass. 

Smith will hit the road this weekend, heading to play at Wheaton College on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.  Clark will play host to Springfield College, at 1 p.m. on Saturday.