Box Score WELLESLEY, Mass.--The Smith College basketball team forced 30 turnovers and limited Wellesley College to just six percent shooting from behind the arc in a 44-35 New England Women and Men's Athletic Conference win over the Blue on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers (9-6, 6-3 NEWMAC) recovered from an early first half deficit to take an 18-16 lead at halftime.  Both teams struggled from the field in the early going, as Smith hit just seven of 22 first half shots, while Wellesley could only connect on seven of 27 shots. 

The Blue (8-8, 5-5 NEWMAC) opened up a 14-9 lead on a three pointer from Malia Maier with 5:15 to play, but Smith finished the half on a 9-2 run, started by consecutive baskets by Lizzy BelBruno (Hanover, N.H./Hanover), followed by a three from Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) and capped by a layup through traffic by Marissa Munoz-Ruiz (Fairfield, Calif./Justin-Siena). 

Smith picked up where they left off in the second half, as Amanda Zakoske (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School) scored five straight points to open the half, and a three point play by Ashani Petrizzi (Deerfield, Mass./Greenfield) with 11:59 to play gave the Pioneers a 26-19 lead.  Another Petrizzi hoop and an offensive rebound and basket from Libby Dutton (Deering, N.H./Hillsboro-Deering) extended the advantage to 30-21.  Wellesley closed to within four points on consecutive baskets by Becca Kimball and a three point play by Leslie Leong with 2:30 to play, but Smith connected on nine of 11 foul shots to in the final 2:45 to seal the win. 

Drummond was the only Smith player in double figures with 10 points, while Marissa Munoz-Ruiz (Fairfield, Calif./Justin-Siena) added six points, seven rebounds, and seven steals.  The Pioneers also knocked down 14 of 20 free throws, compared to just six of 12 for the Blue.  It was the sixth conescutive time that Smith has defeated Wellesley.

Smith will next be in action on Monday, January 24, with 7 p.m. tilt at Wheaton College, a makeup of a game that was postponed on January 15.  Wellesley will take on Clark on January 26 at 7 p.m.