GAME INFORMATION
Score: Smith College 81, Coast Guard 51
Records: Smith (6-2, 2-1); Coast Guard (3-4, 1-2)
When: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Location: Northampton, Mass.
Smith Starters: Bondi, Marquez, Holland, Guest-Pritchett, Barriscale
Coast Guard Starters: Martinelli, Bray, Wood, Riis-Fallica, Moolenaar

The Smith College basketball team secured an 81-51 victory over Coast Guard Academy Wednesday evening in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at Ainsworth Gymnasium. With the win, the Pioneers improve to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference, while the Bears drop to 2-3, 1-2.

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior forward Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga./The Lawrenceville School) led the way with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting to go along with eight rebounds.
• Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Can./Notre Dame Secondary) finished in double-digits with 16 points, two assists, and two rebounds.
• Senior guard Paige Marquez (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prepatory) notched 14 points and a game-best five assists.
• Senior forward Samantha Alakai (Pukalani, Hawaii/Punahou School) came off the bench to post 10 points and seven boards.

COAST GUARD HIGHLIGHTS

• Micaela Martinelli scored a game-high 19 points for the Bears.
• Jill Bray added 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond-the-arc.
• Breanna Wood finished with seven points and a team-high five rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead on a jumper from Bondi and three-pointer by Marquez 1:22 into the game. Another Marquez trey stretched the lead to 12-5 in favor of the home team before a quick 5-0 spurt from the visitors. Breanna Wood converted two free throws with 24 second on the clock to bring the Bears within 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Guest-Pritchett got things going as the Fairburn, Georgia native scored six-straight points for the Pioneers for a 20-12 lead 33 seconds into the stanza. A three-pointer from Bondi made the score 38-22 with 2:41 remaining in the quarter but Coast Guard would remain within striking distance on back-to-back jumpers from Laura Irish and Martinelli. Emma Seymour (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt)'s bucket with 39 second on the clock sent Smith into halftime with a 42-30 lead.

The Pioneers maintained their comfortable cushion throughout the third stanza, outscoring the Bears 20-13 and entering the final period with a 62-43 advantage.

Smith's lead grew to as much as 25 points on back-to-back three pointers by Alakai and first year Emma Zener (Fullerton, Calif./La Habra High School). Another trey from Zener closed out the scoring as the Pioneers went on for the 81-51 final.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Field Goals: SMI 32-61 / CGA 15-49
• 3-Point FG: SMI 10-20 / CGA 7-23
• Free Throw: SMI 7-11 / CGA 14-21
• Points off Turnovers: SMI 24 / CGA 8

GAME NOTES

• The Pioneers held a 40-29 edge in rebounds.
• Smith now leads the all-time series 11-3.
• Bondi has made a three-pointer in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season. 
• Smith improves to 6-0 at home this season.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers will have a week off to prepare for a home contest against Westfield State on Wednesday, December 13 at 7:00 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.