SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Smith College basketball team held on to defeat Springfield College, 50-42. in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Wednesday evening in Blake Arena.

With the win, the Pioneers are now 16-5 on the year, with a 9-3 mark against league opponents, while the Pride dip to 13-7 overall and 9-2 in conference play. 

Springfield College shot a dismal 15-for-62 (24.2%) from the field in the setback, while Smith was 18-for-48 (37.5%) over 40 minutes of play. The Pride held a slight 42-41 advantage in rebounds, while the Pioneers outscored the hosts in the paint, 20-16. 

The Pioneers had a pair of student-athletes in double figures, including Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga./The Lawrenceville School), who notched 16 points to go along with 16 rebounds, while Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Can./Notre Dame Secondary) notched 16 points and added four rebounds, three assists and a block to her line. 

Leading the Pride was the combined efforts of Gracie Restituyo and Chelsea McAllister, as Restituyo finished with nine points and nine rebounds, while McAllister also poured in nine points, and added four rebounds, two assists and a steal to her line. 
 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Springfield College scored the first basket of the game when Taylor Hall stepped in for a deep two, before the Pioneers eventually took a 6-4 lead with 6:34 to play in the first on a pair of free throws from Guest-Pritchett. A three pointer from Alex Goslin gave the Pride an 11-8 lead with 3:08 on the clock, before a free throw from Restituyo granted Springfield College a 12-10 advantage, a lead it would carry into the break.

Opening the second quarter, Goslin hit a lay-up, before a jumper from Amanda Carr pushed the hosts' lead to five, taking an 18-13 lead over the Pioneers at the 7:37 mark. Two free throws from Emily Jacques with 5:36 remaining made it 23-16, Springfield College, before back-to-back baskets from Katy McClellan (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) and Guest-Pritchett, followed by two more free throws from Bondi and one more from Guest-Pritchett made it 23 apiece with 2:55 on the clock. Springfield College got the last possession of the frame, but the Pride was unable to convert, going into the halftime break tied at 23.

Smith College opened up the third quarter with 15 unanswered points to take a 37-23 lead over the maroon and white, which was capped by a three pointer from Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) (Los Angeles, Calif.), before Allie Brennan broke the silence with a pair of free throws at the 1:16 mark of the frame. Restituyo would make one more before the quarter closed, making it 39-26, Smith, heading to the fourth.

Springfield College was able to climb all the way back to within six, as a three pointer from Goslin at the 2:20 mark made it 46-40, Pioneers, but Smith was able to close the game with free throws, picking up their 16th victory of the year. 

UP NEXT
Smith with return to the hardwood on Saturday, February 2 when it will travel to Wheaton for a 1:00 p.m. game.

(Portions of this recap courtesy to Springfield College Athletics)