NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 54, Franklin & Marshall 42
Records: Pioneers 11-0, Diplomats 4-6

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College basketball team captured the 2019 Smith Winter Classic on Monday evening in Ainsworth Gymnasium as it knocked off Franklin & Marshall, 54-42. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers scored the game's first 11 points, nine of which came from sophomore forward Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire). A layup from Kenna Williams got Franklin & Marshall on the board and the Diplomats cut the deficit to 15-8 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second, Smith's lead grew to 13 on first-year Amelia Clairmont's (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) three-pointer at the 7:50 mark as the Pioneers would go into halftime with a 30-19 advantage.

Smith would maintain a cushion in the third quarter as their lead grew to as large as 16 (40-24) on another Clairmont trey. 

The Diplomats made it a 52-41 game on Emily Moran's jumper with 4:00 on the clock, but the Pioneers would hold on for the 54-42 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Pickunka scored a game-high 15 points and corralled seven rebounds
• Junior Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School) finished with six points and a team-high 12 rebounds
• Clairmont added 13 points and six boards, while Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) dished out seven assists. 

GAME NOTES

• Tonight's meeting was the first between these two schools
• Clairmont has scored double figures in six of 11 games this season
• The Diplomats held a 33-32 edge in rebounds
• Smith shot 21-of-60 (35.0%) from the field compared to Franklin & Marshall which shot 14-of-47 (29.8%) for the game.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) (Smith)  - MVP
Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) (Smith)
Rosha Parsons (F&M)
Alisha Aube (Colby)
Amber Wilson (Anna Maria)


UP NEXT
Smith will open 2020 at Trinity College on Thursday night 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.