Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Lizzy BelBruno (Hanover, N.H./Hanover) came off the bench to score 14 points as Smith College pulled away from Springfield College in a 61-49 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference win on Wednesday night.

The Pioneers (8-6, 5-3 NEWMAC) used a 16-2 burst early in the second half to overcome a four point halftime deficit against the Pride (5-11, 5-4 NEWMAC). 

Springfield opened the game by knocking down four of their first seven shots to open up a 9-4 lead at the 14:46 mark of the opening half, and extended the lead to 16-8 on Kelly Slattery's layup with 11:38 to go, but BelBruno canned two three pointers around a set of free throws from Amanda Zakoske (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School) to give Smith a 20-18 lead, and after the two teams traded baskets, Springfield finished the half on a 6-2 run, when Slattery, who scored 14 of her game high 20 points in the first half, drained another close range basket with 20 seconds left in the period.

Down 29-25 at the break, Smith took the lead for good on back-to-back threes from Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth), and a fast-break layup from BelBruno. After Abby Connors missed a three at the other end, Smith put their stamp on the game with their next possesion.  Sydney Parkmond (Waterbury, Conn./Chase Collegiate) grabbed four offensive rebounds, keeping the ball alive until she put the final one back for a 38-31 Smith lead that forced a Springfield timeout.  The run continued with BelBruno's three triple of the game. 

Springfield stopped the bleeding when Connors drained a three with 15:04 left in the game, and Emily Walker's foul shot at the 12:28 mark got Springfield within four points.  Another three, this time from Libby Dutton (Deering, N.H./Hillsboro-Deering) gave Smith a 50-42 advantage with 6:52 to play, and Springfield never got closer than seven points down the stretch.

Zakoske had her second double-double of the season with 12 points and a game high 10 rebounds.  Sydney Parkmond (Waterbury, Conn./Chase Collegiate) nearly had her own double-double with 10 points and eight boards.  Slattery was the only member of the Pride in double-figures with 20 points. 

The Pioneers held Springfield to 21.9 percent shooting in the second half, and limited the Pride to 3-for-18 from behind the arc in the final half.  Smith also was solid at the foul line, sinking 15 of 19 shots, while Springfield could only hit six of 15. 

Smith will be on the road for the next four games, starting with a trip to Wellesley this Saturday, January 22.  In the first meeting between the Pioneers and Blue this season, Smith won 60-52 on January 5 behind Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth)'s 18 points and 14 rebounds.  Springfield will be at home to No. 5 Babson on Saturday.