NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College basketball team outscored Emerson 22-14 in the fourth quarter to give the Pioneers a 68-59 win over the visiting Lions in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest Saturday afternoon at Ainsworth Gymnasium. With the victory, Smith improves to 12-5 overall and 6-3 in conference action. Emerson dips to 10-7, 4-4.

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior forward Emma Seymour (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt) was crucial in the win, finishing with 11 points in 16 minutes off the bench.
• Senior guard Katy McClellan (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) added 16 points and grabbed six boards.
• Senior guard Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Can./Notre Dame Secondary) recorded 14 points, four rebounds, and a game-high four assists.

EMERSON HIGHLIGHTS

• Natalie Clydesdale led the Lions with 14 points and seven rebounds. 
• Quinn Madden finished with 14 points and five boards.
• Sam Boyle chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening quarter featured five lead changes before the Pioneers were able to end the quarter on a 6-2 run. First year Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) converted a layup with eight seconds left in the quarter for a 17-11 Smith lead.

A three-pointer from Quinn Madden and layup by Natalie Busch tied the game, 20-20 with 6:48 on the clock. It was a back and forth affair the remainder of the game as no team held a lead larger than three points. Smith went into halftime with a 30-28 advantage thanks to a McClellan layup at the 57 seconds mark.

Smith's lead grew to as large as eight points, 45-37) on a jumper from first year Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire), but the Lions clawed back to come within one (46-45) at the end of the period.

Senior Sydney Koh (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside) opened the fourth with a trey followed by a 5-0 run from Seymour to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the game at 54-45 with 6:26 left in regulation. After a three-pointer from Rachel Davey, Smith extended the game to 12 points (60-48) on another Seymour jumper. The Pioneers held the lead down the stretch to claim the 68-59 win.

GAME NOTES

• Smith shot 24-of-52 (46.2%) from the field and 5-of-11 (45.5%) from three-point range. 
• Emerson was 23-of-60 (38.3%) and 6-of-18 (33.3%) from long distance. 
• The Lions won the battle on the glass, 37-34.
• The Pioneers improve to 6-4 in the all-time series.

UP NEXT
Smith will take a break from conference action to host Williams on Tuesday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m.

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a 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.