NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Senior forward Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga./The Lawrenceville School) recorded a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Smith College basketball team but it was not enough as Springfield College rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat the Pioneers 59-52 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener Wednesday evening at Ainsworth Gymnasium. With the win, the Pride improves to 3-3 on the year, while the Pioneers fall to 4-2 overall.

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS

• Guest-Pritchett's 19 points and 15 boards were season-highs as the Fairburn, Georgia native posted her third double-double of the season. 
• Senior guard Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Can./Notre Dame Secondary) added 14 points and a game-high four assists.
• Sophomore guard Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School) grabbed six boards in 23 minutes off the bench.

SPRINGFIELD HIGHLIGHTS

• The Pride received 13-point performances from Chelsea McAllister and Emily Jacques. 
• Alex Goslin finished with 12 points, five boards, four assists, and two steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
A basket from first-year Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) gave Smith a 9-3 lead at the 4:42 mark of the first quarter before a 5-0 run from the Pride brought the visitors to within three with 3:17 left to play. A jumper from Bondi as time ran out put Smith ahead 19-12 going into the second.

Guest-Pritchett gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the game at 23-12 just over a minute into the second period and Bondi would again extend Smith's advantage to 11 on a three-pointer with 2:39 left to play. The Pride were able to narrow the gap to eight points at halftime, 35-27.

Springfield opened up the third quarter on a 6-0 run as Smith was held to just three points throughout the 10 minutes, sending the game into the fourth tied at 38.

A layup from Jacques with 4:41 left to play put the Pride up 50-42 but back-to-back three-pointers from senior guard Stephanie Foukaris (Nicosia, Cyprus/Pascal English School Nicosia) and Bondi kept Smith in striking distance. Two free throws from Whalen made the game 54-52 in favor of the visitors, however the Pride forced two Smith turnovers in the final minute allowed Springfield to go on for the 59-52 win.

GAME NOTES

• The Pioneers held a 40-30 advantage on the glass.
• Springfield forced 13 Smith turnovers and scored 26 points in the paint. 
• Smith drops to 13-32 all-time against the Pride. 
• The Pioneers dip to 5-7 all-time in NEWMAC openers under head coach Lynn Hersey.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers continue conference play with a road game at Babson on Saturday, December 1 at 12:00 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.