Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Led by 12 points from senior co-captain Alyssa Barrett (Berlin, Conn./Berlin), Smith's comeback attempt fell just short as the Pioneers dropped a 56-52 decision to the Pride of Springfield College Wednesday night.

Barrett was one of two Pioneers to score in double figures. She was joined by first-year Meghan Holland (Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prepatory), who tallied 10 points to go along with a game-high six assists and two rebounds.

Smith trailed by nine points midway through the second half. The Pioneers battled back to cut their deficit down to two with 45 seconds to play.

The two teams traded baskets during the early minutes of the first half, with a jumper by Holland tying the contest at 10-10 with 13:53 remaining in the first stanza.

Springfield (15-6 overall, 10-2 NEWMAC) followed with a 7-0 run over the next 3:33, while Smith followed suit with a 6-0 run of their own to cut the Pride's lead down to one, 17-16 with 7:26 to play.

The home team answered with a 9-0 spurt, highlighted by five points from Heather Lewis, to take their biggest lead of the half, 26-16. Smith outscored Springfield 6-3 to close out the half, with the Pride holding a 29-22 lead at the intermission.

Holland scored eight of her 10 points in the second half to help give the Pioneers a chance.

Smith (6-13 overall, 2-9 NEWMAC) battled back to cut the deficit down to one, 34-33 on a three-pointer by first-year Paige Marquez (San Francisco, Calif./Saint Ignatius College Preparatory).

The Pride parlayed an 8-2 run to start the second half into a 42-35 lead with 13:28 left in the contest.

The Pioneers stormed back with a pair of threes by Barrett to cut it to 44-41 with 11:53 to play.

Smith fell back down eight points at 54-46 with 2:57 left. However, a basket by sophomore Jade Chihara (Lahaina, Hawaii/Lahainaluna) and four points from senior co-captain Lauren Weston (Florence, Mass./Northampton) gave the Blue and Gold a chance. Lewis made a critical layup to seal the conference win.

For the contest, the Pride hit 20-of-48 shots from the field (41.7 percent), 3-of-9 shots from 3-point range (33.3 percent) and 13-of-16 shots from the foul line (81.3 percent). The Pioneers hit 20-of-49 shots from the field (40.8 percent), 7-of-21 shots from 3-point range (33.3 percent) and 5-of-15 from the foul line (33.3 percent).

First-year Amanda Barriscale (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais) added a team-high six rebounds, while Weston finished with seven points and four boards.

Smith returns to action Saturday at WPI. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.