NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 66 Emerson 68
Records: Pioneers 14-2, 0-1 NEWMAC, Lions 10-5, 1-0 NEWMAC

BOSTON, Mass. - The Smith College basketball team was unable to get a shot off in the final five seconds of the game as Emerson College forced a turnover to come away with a 68-66 win over the Pioneers in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams Saturday afternoon. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Smith was led by first-year Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) who finished with a game-high 21 points
• Sophomore Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) totaled 13 points, seven assists and three boards
• Sophomore forward Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) produced 10 points, four rebounds, two blocks and one steal

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Smith opened the first frame with a quick 4-0 lead behind back-to-back layups by first-year Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) and Gleissner only to have Emerson answer on the other end that started with Rachel Davey's triple and a trey from Natalie Clydesdale that pushed the Lions in front (5-4). 
• The Lions fell behind three (12-9) after Pickunka put up a layup, but strength beyond the arc showed as Madden knocked down a three to even the game at 12-all with 4:05 to go in the quarter.
• Leads flip flopped between the two teams until Smith dropped four points in to pull ahead of Emerson by five at the 53 second mark (20-15) before Clydesdale sent up a last second jumper to put the score at 20-17 to wrap the first.
• After taking a quick two-point edge on Quinn Madden's bucket, Smith pieced together an 8-0 spurt that included three's by Ruffner and first-year Ashlyn Bohn (Tucson, Ariz./Tucson High Magnet School) to bump the Pioneers to a six-point advantage (30-24). 
• A pair of Emerson buckets gave the Lions a two-point lead with 51 ticks on the clock as Smith cashed in a buzzer-beating bucket from downtown to even the score at the half (33-33). 
• Emerson kept Smith off the boards and embarked on an 11-2 streak capped off by Davey's trip to the charity stripe to extend the host's lead up to seven (44-37). 
• Smith charged back and regained a one-point lead on Clairmont's triple at the 1:20 mark, holding Emerson to a four-point deficit with nine seconds on the clock before Clydesdale canned a three at the buzzer to wrap the third (50-49). 
• At 8:05, Madden sent up a three-point basket that kicked off three consecutive triples from both Clydesdale and junior Ashley Toner as Emerson build a six-point advantage over Smith (60-54). 
• Smith stayed within distance and cashed in a three on its end to stay within three, yet Emerson was able to rebuild a seven-point cushion with 3:21 to go in the fourth (64-57). 
• Clairmont kept Smith in the game and nailed two consecutive shots to put the Pioneers within one on two critical occasions, once at 64-63 and again at 67-66. 
• Davey spoiled Smith's chance at a game-winner and turned a Clairmont turnover in Smith's end into the game-winning free throw as the game was sealed at 68-66. 

GAME NOTES

• Smith is 1-4 in its last five NEWMAC openers
• Emerson is now 6-5 all-time against the Pioneers
• The Pioneers were 26-for-53 (49.1%) in the loss, while Emerson shot 27-of-52 (51.9%) over the course of the game
• Smith held a 29-26 advantage on the glass

UP NEXT
Smith will now travel to MIT on Wednesday, January 22 to take on the Engineers at 6:00 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.