NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 62, New England College 52
Records: Pioneers 4-0, Pilgrims 3-1

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Led by a career-high 20 points from first-year Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin), the Smith College basketball team held on for a 62-52 win over New England College in Ainsworth Gymnasium Wednesday evening. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers' largest lead of the opening quarter came in the closing seconds as first-year Ally Yamada (Seal Beach, Calif./Fairmont Prep Academy) drained a three to go ahead 23-8.

First-year Ashlyn Bohn's (Tucson, Ariz./Tucson High Magnet School) trey extended Smith's advantage to 33-13, but NEC chipped away and a 4-0 run to end the period made it 33-17 at the break.

The Pilgrims would outscore Smith 17-13 in the third quarter to trail 46-34 heading into the fourth.

NEC made it a nine-point game on multiple occasions in the final period but the Pioneers would hold on for the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ruffner finished with 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field in 33 minutes off the bench
• Sophomore Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) added 18 points and hauled in seven boards
• Sophomore Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) recorded a double-double off 11 points and career-high 10 assists
• For the visitors, Rene Hudson totaled 13 points, four rebounds and two assists

GAME NOTES

• The Pioneers are 1-0 all-time against the Pilgrims
• Smith has won five regular season non-conference games dating back to last season
• The Pioneers shot 48.9 percent from the field, including a 65.2 performance from the free-throw line

UP NEXT
Smith returns to action on Saturday, November 23 as the Pioneers travel to Sage for a 1:00 p.m. non-conference start.


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.