Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Paulina Solis (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) used 11 of her game-high 23 points to fuel a key 23-9 run in the first half as the Smith College basketball team overcame a slow start and went on to hold off host Springfield, 57-54, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball matchup on Wednesday night at Blake Arena.

Both teams now sport an identical 13-10 record overall as Smith moved to 13-5 in NEWMAC play and are a half a game back of Wheaton, who plays MIT at 8:00 p.m. Springfield evens out at 9-9 in conference action.

With 44 seconds left to play, Springfield's Ava Adamopoulos knocked down two free throws to make it a 56-54 game, coming within two points of the Pioneers. On the other end, Dina Pitsas grabbed a defensive rebound and Springfield used a timeout with 16 seconds left to play. Springfield missed on a three-point attempt and was forced to foul with four seconds left. Solis made one of two from the line to make it a 57-54 game. Springfield took a deep three at the buzzer, but the shot was just short and Smith held on for the win.

Smith was led by Solis who scored a game-high 23 points. Sydney Parkmond (Waterbury, Conn./Chase Collegiate) added 11 points and seven rebounds while Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) tallied 10 points and seven boards.

The Pride were paced by Jaimie Bickelhaupt with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Adamopoulos finished with 12 points and seven boards off the bench.

Trailing 9-0 midway through the first half, Smith got on the board on a basket by Solis in the paint to ignite a 23-9 rally. Mandy Castro (San Diego, Calif./Poway) knocked down a contested three-pointer to take a 19-18 lead with 4:01 left in the first and the outburst was capped by a pair of free throws by Lauren Weston (Florence, Mass./Northampton). The Pioneers went into the break with a 27-20 lead.

Springfield opened the second half with two quick baskets by Bickelhaupt and Heather Lewis to make it a 27-24 game just 51 seconds in.

Smith answered back with an 8-0 run, taking a 38-26 lead with 14:42 left in the game. Bickelhaupt ended the draught for the Pride, laying it in to make it a 10-point game with 12:39 to play.

A pair of free throws by Pitsas and Springfield was right back in it, making it a 38-34 game with 9:07 to play.

Springfield tied it up 44-44 with 4:34 left in the game as Danielle Racette drove to the basket then dished it off to Adamopoulos who finished in the paint.

Springfield shot 22-of-61 (36.1 percent) from the field, 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) from three and 7-of-9 (77.8 percent) from the foul line. Smith shot 18-of-54 (33.3 percent) from the field, 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) from three and 14-of-17 (82.4 perfcent) from the foul line.

Smith will honor its three seniors before an important 2:00 p.m. NEWMAC game against Coast Guard. Springfield will travel to Mount Holyoke on Wednesday February 19 for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.

(Major Portions Courtesy Springfield College)

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