NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 84, Rivier 34
Records: Pioneers 2-0, Raiders 2-3

NORTHAMPTON, Mass.- The Smith College basketball team eased past Rivier University, 84-34, in the 27th Annual Tyler Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon in the home-opener at Ainsworth Gymnasium. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Smith jumped out to a 13-2 advantage following a layup by Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) with 4:24 remaining in the first quarter. Overthe next 1:40 both teams would struggle to find a rhythm before Dashelle Gleissner's (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) trey sparked an 8-3 run to close out the quarter.

The Pioneers momentum would allow them to build its lead to as much as 23 points in the first half. Smith held the Rivier to just 4-of-16 shooting as the Pioneers went to the locker room ahead 40-18 thanks to a buzzer-beater three-pointer from first-year Rachael Cipolla (Essex, Conn./Mercy). 

To open the second half of play, Smith's lead quickly grew to 28 points on a three-point play from Pickunka. The home squad would take a 69-25 into the fourth for the eventual victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Sophomore Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) was perfect from the field, leading the Pioneers with 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. 
• Sophomore Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) finished with nine points and a game-high six assists.
• First-year Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) came off the bench to produce seven points and seven boards.
• The visitors were led by Arianna Motivala's 11 points.

GAME NOTES

• Smith improves to 4-0 all-time against the Raiders.
• The Pioneers will play in the Tyler Tip-Off championship game for the sixth-consecutive season
• Smith ended the night with advantages in field goal percentage (46.4 - 20.0), three-point shooting (7-of-17 to 7-of-26), and rebounds (53-22).
• 12 student-athletes scored for the Pioneers.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers advance to the championship game of the Tyler Tip-Off Tournament where they will face Moravian tomorrow at 4:00 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.