NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The regular season concludes for the Smith College basketball team (21-3, 15-2 NEWMAC) when the Pioneers travel to Wellesley College (13-8, 12-5 NEWMAC) on Saturday. Smith leads the all-time series 31-26.
Last Meeting: Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) scored a season high 26 points as Smith emerged with an 82-73 overtime win over the Blue on January 5, 2013. Smith outscored the Blue 19-10 in the extra period, after Wellesley rallied from a seven point halftime deficit.
Smith Overview: Smith completed a season sweep of WPI with a 71-55 win over the Engineers on Wednesday night.
Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) scored 16 points, one of four Smith players in double-figures as Smith locked down second place in the NEWMAC standings.
Wellesley Overview: The Blue suffered a 64-56 loss to Coast Guard on Wednesday, but despite the loss, Wellesley cemented their position as the No. 3 seed in the upcoming NEWMAC tournament (more on that below). Wellesley has improved its seeding in each of the last four years, finishing sixth in 2010, fifth in 2011, and fourth in 2012, and now third in 2013.
Smith Player to Watch: Sydney Parkmond (Waterbury, Conn./Chase Collegiate) has been a quiet force, scoring double-digits in three of the last four games.
Wellesley Player to Watch: Leslie Leong is the Blue's leading scorer, at just a shade under 10 points per game. She also is connecting on 45% of her three point shots.
Playoff Permutations: Smith is guaranteed the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, and a bye into the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the No.3/No.6 matchup. Wellesley will be the No. 3 seed, and the Blue will host Coast Guard, MIT, or Clark in a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, January 20.
