GAME INFORMATION
Score: Smith College 52, MIT 69
Records: Smith (4-2, 0-1); MIT (2-2, 1-0)
When: Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
Smith Starters: Bondi, Marquez, Holland, Guest-Pritchett, Alakai
MIT Starters: V'Dovec, Holinski, Ngan, Gallagher, Yuan

Junior guard Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Can./Notre Dame Secondary) led the Smith College basketball team with 14 points and two steals but it was not enough as MIT posted a 69-52 win over the Pioneers in the NEWMAC opener for both teams Wednesday evening at Rockwell Cage.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

After a back-and-forth start, MIT built a 13-7 lead following V'Dovec's put-back with 4:13 on the clock. A layup by Katy McClellan (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) and then a three-pointer from Bondi quickly brought Smith within one. However, another V'Dovec basket set off a string of seven unanswered points which gave the Engineers a 20-12 advantage at the end of the quarter.

The hosts maintained their comfortable cushion throughout the second stanza as two free throws by junior Kara Holinski created a 34-19 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Pioneers gradually chipped away at the deficit, coming within eight on two occasions. The last time was on a trey by Paige Marquez (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prepatory) that made the score 44-36 with 1:58 remaining. MIT responded with a seven-point burst but Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga./The Lawrenceville School) sank two late free throws to keep Smith within striking distance.

The Engineers opened the fourth quarter with a 13-5 run which extended the lead to 64-43 and put the game out of reach.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Holinski posted 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists as junior Kristen Ngan totaled 10 points, five boards, and three assists in 40 minutes of action for the Cardinal and Gray.

Guest-Pritchett finished with nine points while McClellan recorded eight points and a team-high seven boards. Meghan Holland (Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prepatory) and Samantha Alakai (Pukalani, Hawaii/Punahou School) both grabbed six rebounds while Holland dished out a game-high five assists.

 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Field Goals: SMI 21-57 / MIT 28-58
• 3-Point FG: SMI 4-13 / MIT 7-20
• Free Throw: SMI 6-9 / MIT 6-6
• Points off Turnovers: SMI 11 / MIT 15

GAME NOTES

• The Engineers held a 35-32 edge in rebounds.
• MIT improves to 16-30 all-time against the Pioneers.
• Bondi has scored in double-figures in 5-of-6 games this season.
• Guest-Pritchett is just two offensive rebounds to become the all-time leader in that category.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers look for their first conference win of the season Saturday against WPI at 2:00 p.m.

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is an NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.