NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 97, Westfield State 70
Records: Pioneers 8-0, Owls 3-6

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College basketball team is off to its best start in program history after a 97-70 win over Westfield State Tuesday night in Ainsworth Gymnasium. First-year Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) led four players in double figures with 25 points. The Pioneers held the Owls to their second lowest point total of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Clairmont's career-high came on five three-pointer and 6-of-7 shooting from the free throw line.
• Sophomore Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) racked up a double-double of 19 points and a career-best 18 boards to go along with four blocks.
• Junior Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School) also totaled a career-high 16 points to go along with five assists.
• First-year Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) came off the bench to finish with nine points, eight boards and seven assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pioneers and Owls went point-for-point to open the game before Smith scored five-straight to take a 26-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
• Back-to-back jumpers from Pickunka and Whalen brought the score to 30-17 before a bucket by Alison Mendel at the 6:56 mark trimmed the margin to 35-24. 
• The final five minutes of the quarter saw Smith embark on a 16-8 run, making the score 56-32 at halftime. 
• Smith continued to pull away in the third, growing their lead to as much as 31 points (77-46) on a layup by Ruffner with 2:25 on the clock.
• The Pioneers maintained their comfortable lead in the fourth and would go on to win 97-70. 

GAME NOTES

• The Pioneers even the all-time series at 14 wins apiece.
• Smith's defense limited the Owls to 22-81 (27.2 percent) shooting from the floor and 9-41 (22 percent) from three point range.
• The Pioneers dominated the glass, holding a 51-33 advantage and knocked down eight treys.

UP NEXT
Smith's final game of the semester is Thursday, December 10 at 5:30 p.m. against RPI.



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.