GAME INFORMATION
Score: Smith College 65, Emerson College 50
Records: Smith (16-5, 9-3); Emerson (8-12, 6-7)
When: Saturday, February 3, 2018
Location: Northampton, Mass.
Smith Starters: Bondi, Marquez, Holland, Guest-Pritchett, Barriscale
Emerson Starters: C. Boyle, Busch, Clydesdale, Savino, S. Boyle

Junior forward Stephanie Foukaris (Nicosia, Cyprus/Pascal English School Nicosia) scored a career-high 12 points to propel the Smith College basketball team to a 65-50 win over Emerson in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action Saturday afternoon at Ainsworth Gymnasium. With the victory, the Pioneers improve to 16-5 overall and 9-3 in league play, while Emerson drops to 8-12, 6-7.

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS

• In addition to her 12 points, Foukaris pulled down five rebounds and drained two 3-pointers.
• Junior guard Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Can./Notre Dame Secondary) netted a game-high 14 points to go along with four boards, and four steals.
• Senior guard Paige Marquez (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prepatory) finished with 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists.

EMERSON HIGHLIGHTS

• Quinn Madden led the Lions with 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.
• Rachel Davey added nine points as a reserve.
• Charlie Boyle totaled six points, four rebounds, and three blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers left nothing in doubt, racing out to a 13-0 lead in the opening 3:16. Bondi opened the game with a trey followed by a jumper from Marquez. Madden's jumper gave Emerson their first points at the 5:22 mark but Smith closed out the quarter on a 9-2 run to go into the second period up 22-4.

Foukaris drained back-to-back three-pointers midway through the second quarter to give Smith a 22-point cushion, 33-11, and Marquez nailed a buzzer beating shot from the beyond-the-arc as the Pioneers went into halftime leading 38-16.

First-year forward Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School) connected on consecutive jumpers, giving Smith a 28-point cushion with 2:22 remaining in the stanza.

A three-pointer from Marquez with 4:14 left in the fourth gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the quarter, 63-38 but Emerson closed out the game on a 12-2 run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Field Goals: SMI  24-68 / EME 15-53
• 3-Point FG: SMI  6-16 / EME 3-14
• Free Throw: SMI 11-16 / EME 17-27
• Points off Turnovers: SMI 17 / EME 14

GAME NOTES

• Smith held the 49-40 advantage in rebounds. 
• The Pioneers improve to 5-3 all-time against the Lions.
• Smith is off to their best start dating back to the 2012-13 season.
• Smith remains undefeated at home in 2017-18 (12-0) and have won 19 consecutive games at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers will travel to Coast Guard on Wednesday, February 7 for a 5:30 p.m. matchup with the Bears.

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.