GAME INFORMATION: Smith 77, Coast Guard 53
RECORDS: Smith (4-1, 1-0); Coast Guard (2-3, 0-1)
LOCATION: New London, Conn.
SMITH STARTERS: Guest-Pritchett (F), Marquez (G), Hanley (G), Alakai (F), Castro (G)
COAST GUARD STARTERS: Martinelli (G), Irish (G), Riis-Fallica (G), Bray (F), Gerton (F)
Sophomore guard
Erin Hanley (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prepatory) poured in a career-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting to help the Smith College basketball team to a 77-53 win over Coast Guard in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams on Wednesday evening.
SMITH HIGHLIGHTS
- Hanley added three rebounds, one assist, and one steal to go along with her 19 points. The San Francisco, Calif. native has scored in double figues in three games this season.
- Sophomore Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga./The Lawrenceville School) added 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
- Junior guard Samantha Alakai (Pukalani, Hawaii/Punahou School) finished with seven points, all coming in the first quarter.
COAST GUARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Junior Gill Gerton led the Bears with 10 points to go with eight rebounds.
- Sophomore Jayla Joyner finished with nine points and tied a career-high with nin rebounds.
- Sophomore Micaela Martinelli totaled a team-high four assists and hauled in six boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Smith jumped out to 12-2 lead with 5:57 left in the first quarter and the Pioneers led 17-4 with 2:34 left before the Bears used an 11-2 run to close out the quarter making the score 19-15 after one.
- The Pioneers dominated play in the second quarter outscoring the Bears 18-4 including the first seven points of the quarter and the final eight points of the quarter for a 37-19 halftime lead.
- Smith was 15 of 34 from the field (44.1 percent) in the first half and hit six of 12 from behind the arc while the Bears shot 29.2 percent from the floor (7-24) making just one of seven from 3-point range.
- The Pioneers led by as many as 25 in the third quarter, 46-21 with 7:29 left following a bucket by Guest-Pritchett, and had a 58-36 lead after three quarters.
- Smith had its largest lead of the game at 66-38 with 6:48 left on a basket by junior Tavorsia Talley (New Hope, Pa./Solebury School).
TURNING POINT
Smith outscored the home team 18-4 in the second quarter to claim a lead they would not relinquish.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
For the game, Smith shot 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the field, a season-high 36.8 mark (7-of-19) from long distance, and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the charity stripe. The Bears held the advantage on the boards, 41-36, while the Pioneers forced 24 turnovers.
UP NEXT
Smith continues their conference slate when the Pioneers host Babson College Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
(Portions of this recap courtesy to Coast Guard Athletics)
