NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College basketball team (2-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) will open New England Women's and Men's (NEWMAC) play with a visit to longtime rival Mount Holyoke College (1-2, 0-0 NEWMAC).  Smith leads the all-time series 39-33, and has won the last six meetings between the schools.


Last Meeting: Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) scored 19 points and pulled down nine rebounds as Smith rolled to a 70-45 win over Mount Holyoke on January 25, 2012.

Smith Overview: The Pioneers suffered their first loss of the season with a 66-63 setback to RPI on Sunday.  Smith led 39-33 at halftime, but the Engineers staged a second half rally to take the lead and Paulina Solis (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill)' three point attempt with four seconds remaining was off target.

Mount Holyoke Overview: The Lyons fell to 1-2 with a 62-32 defeat to No. 15 Amherst College.  Mount Holyoke was within nine points at halftime, but was limited to 12% shooting (3-for-25) from the field in the second half.

Smith Player to Watch: Bethany Claps (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Acad.) netted a career high 16 points in the loss to RPI, and is shooting 60 percent from the floor in the first three games of the year.

Mount Holyoke Player to Watch: Sophomore Amber Legare is averaging 15 points per game, including 21 in the season opener against Mount Ida, shooting 10-for-14 from the field.

Did you know?  Smith's first ever win over Mount Holyoke was a 47-36 decision on February 13, 1973.  Smith would also defeat the Lyons just over a week later, with a 45-25 win.  The Pioneers finished that season 8-0.