GAME INFORMATION
Score: Smith College 83, Babson 73 (OT)
Records: Smith (9-4, 3-2); Babson (9-5, 5-1)
When: Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Location: Northampton, Mass.
Smith Starters: Bondi, Marquez, Holland, Guest-Pritchett, Barriscale
Babson Starters: Ouimette, Tamulionis, Lane, Bonifacic, Tomassini

The Smith College basketball team remained undefeated at home in 2017-18 as the Pioneers earned an 83-73 overtime win over Babson College in NEWMAC action Tuesday evening at Ainsworth Gymnasium. With the victory, Smith improves to 9-4 overall and 3-2 in the NEWMAC. Babson, which had its 15-game conference road winning snapped, drops to 9-5, 5-1.

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior forward Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga./The Lawrenceville School) poured in a career-high 27 points to go along with 19 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.
• Junior guard Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Can./Notre Dame Secondary) posted a career-best 25 points and was a perfect 14-of-14 from the free throw line while also adding four steals, three rebounds, and three assists.
• Senior guard Meghan Holland (Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prepatory) finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and two helpers.

BABSON HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior Payton Ouimette recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 18 points and 17 rebounds.
• Tea Spellacy contributed a career-high 17 points off the bench to go along with six boards and three assists.
• Katherine Tamulionis posted a career-best 15 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers jumped out to an 11-3 lead to start the game on six points from Guest-Pritchett. Babson quickly gained momentum and came within three points (17-14) at the end of the first quarter. 

The Beavers took their largest lead at 21-17 just over two minutes into the second stanza. Tea Spellacy gave the visitors a 33-30 lead at the 1:57 mark but a layup from Guest-Pritchett and back-to-back treys from Bondi and Paige Marquez (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prepatory) allowed Smith to a 38-33 lead into the break.

With 20 seconds left in regulation, Bondi sunk two free throws to give the Pioneers a 68-65 lead, however first-year Nicole Hiller drained a three-pointer with under 10 seconds to tie the game for the Beavers. Bondi's attempt at a game-winner rimmed out sending the contest to overtime.

The Pioneers overpowered the visitors, outscoring Babson 15-5 in the extra period. A three-pointer from Tamulionis tied the game at 73-73 but a layup from Guest-Pritchett and a clutch trey from Holland extended Smith's lead to 78-73 with 49 seconds to. The Pioneers would go on to seal the win with free throws down the stretch. 
 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Field Goals: SMI  29-71 / BAB 25-73
• 3-Point FG: SMI  5-16 / BAB 7-29
• Free Throw: SMI  20-23 / BAB 16-19
• Points off Turnovers: SMI  18 / BAB 20

GAME NOTES

• The Pioneers held a 51-43 advantage in rebounds.
• Smith improves to 12-39 against Babson, picking up their first victory over the Beavers since March 1, 2014.
• The Pioneers have won 16 consecutive home games dating back to January 3, 2017.
• Guest-Pritchett set a new Smith record for field goals made in a game with 13.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers return to action on Thursday, January 11 as Smith travels to Springfield to a 1:00 p.m. meeting with the Pride.

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.