NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College basketball team hits the road for the first time in 2012 when the Pioneers (9-2, 4-1 NEWMAC) take on Wellesley College (4-6. 3-2 NEWMAC) in a 2 p.m. tilt.  Smith sits alone in second place in the NEWMAC, while Wellesley is tied for third place with MIT.


Last Meeting: Smith limited Wellesley to 1-15 shooting from three point range to earn a 44-35 win on January 22, 2011.  Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) led Smith with 10 points, while Marissa Munoz-Ruiz (Fairfield, Calif./Justin-Siena) turned in a six point, seven rebound, seven steal performance.  Smith forced 30 turnovers while improving to 9-6 overall and 6-3 in league play.

Smith Overview:  In action for the first time in the new year, Smith edged out MIT 55-51 on Wednesday night by shooting 60 percemt from the field.  MIT had a chance to force overtime, but turned the ball over on their final possesion.  Lizzy BelBruno (Hanover, N.H./Hanover) led Smith with 12 points.

Wellesley Overview: The Blue knocked off Mount Holyoke 59-39 to snap a four game losing skid on Wednesday night.  Wellesley had four players in double-figures and limited Mount Holyoke to 27 percent shoot (15-55) from the floor. Before that win, Wellesley had played five of their last six games away from home, including losses to Point Loma Nazarene and Wisconsin-Stevens Point at the 2011 Surf n' Slam Classic in San Diego on Dec. 29-30.

Smith Player to Watch: BelBruno is starting to heat up, averaging 12.5 points per game in her last two contests after scoring in single digits in three straight games. 

Wellesley Player to Watch: First year center Morgyne Weaver has hit double-figure scoring four times this year, while shooting 45 percent from the field and averaging 5.5 rebounds per game.

Did you know?  Wellesley does not have a player averaging in double-digit scoring this year, with three players just a shade under 10 points per game.