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wbb
58
CLK CLK 9-4, 3-3
71
Winner Smith College SMI 10-3, 3-2
CLK CLK
9-4, 3-3
58
Final
71
Smith College SMI
10-3, 3-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
CLK CLK 18 13 12 15 58
Smith College SMI 11 13 23 24 71

Game Recap: Basketball |

Bondi's Return Sparks 71-58 Comeback Win Over Clark

GAME INFORMATION: Smith 71, Clark 58
RECORDS: Smith (10-3, 3-2); Clark (9-4, 3-3)
LOCATION: Northampton, Mass.
SMITH STARTERS: Guest-Pritchett (F), Marquez (G), Hanley (G), Alakai (F), Castro (G)
CLARK STARTERS: Sullivan (G), O'Gara (G), Ezemma (F), Wilder (G), St. Pierre (G)

Sophomore guard Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Can./Notre Dame Secondary) poured in a season-high 14 points in just 11 minutes of action as the Smith College basketball team overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Clark University, 71-58, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action Tuesday evening at Ainsworth Gymnasium. The Pioneers have won six straight and improve to 10-3, their best start since the 2012-13 season.

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS
  • Bondi, who shot 5-of-6 from the field, was the leading scorer for the Pioneers in just 11 minutes of action in the second half.
  • Sophomore guard Erin Hanley (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prepatory) finished with 13 points and seven rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting.
  • An all around effort from junior guard Samantha Alakai (Pukalani, Hawaii/Punahou School) resulted in 11 points, four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals.
  • Junior guard Paige Marquez (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prepatory) was the fourth Smith player to finish in double figures with 10 points, three rebounds and two blocks.
  • Sophomore forward Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga./The Lawrenceville School) hauled in a game-high 13 boards to go along with nine points.

CLARK HIGHLIGHTS
  • Sophomore center Ogechi Ezemma registered her sixth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars.
  • Senior guard Aretha Sullivan finished with 17 points on 4-of-9 shooting and one rebound.
  • Junior guard Sam O'Gara added eight points and pulled down six boards.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Trailing 9-4, Alakai fed Marquez on back-to-back three-pointers to pull within one (11-10) 5:31 into the game.
  • Over the final 3:01 of the opening period, Clark went on a 7-1 run powered by three baskets from Ezemma to take an 18-11 lead going into the second quarter.
  • After two free-throws from Sullivan, Smith began to close the gap as Hanley's free throw made it a two point game (20-18) at the 5:30 mark.
  • Back-to-back buckets from the Cougars gave the visitors a 24-18 advantage, but sophomores Stephanie Foukaris (Nicosia, Cyprus/Pascal English School Nicosia) and Sydney Koh (Seattle, Wash. /Lakeside) each connected from long distance on consecutive possessions to tie the game at 24-24 with 3:43 left in the half
  • The Cougars closed out the first half on a 7-0 run to take a 31-24 at the break.
  • The Pioneers turned the tide in the third quarter, outscoring the Cougars 13-5. A free-throw from Hanley gave the Pioneers their first lead of the game, 35-34, at the 3:39 mark.
  • Clark maintained pressure in the beginning minutes of the fourth quarter, but Bondi took over as back-to-back three-pointers from her and Alakai made it an eight point game (55-47) with 7:11 to play.
  • Alakai put the nail in the coffin as she drained a three-pointer at the 1:19 mark, giving the Pioneers a 69-58 lead.

TURNING POINT
Smith outscored the Cougars 23-12 in the crucial third quarter.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
For the game, Smith shot 41.0 percent (25-of-61) from the field, a season-high 61.5 percent mark (8-of-13) from long distance, and 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from the charity stripe. The Pioneers also held the advantage on the boards, 38-28. Clark shot 45.7 percent (21-for-46) from the field and 36.4 percent from behind-the-arc.

UP NEXT
Smith continues their conference slate when the Pioneers travel to Springfield College Thursday for a 12:30 p.m. matinee start. 
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