NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 71,  MIT 60
Records: Pioneers 15-2, 1-1 NEWMAC, Engineers 6-9, 0-2 NEWMAC

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A 12-0 run late in the fourth quarter helped Smith College secure a 71-60 win over MIT in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball action Wednesday evening at Rockwell Cage. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Sophomore forward Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) led the way with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals
• First-year guard Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) totaled 14 points, two assists and two steals
• Junior Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School) and first-year Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) each finished with 10 points
• First-year Ashlyn Bohn (Tucson, Ariz./Tucson High Magnet School) grabbed a game-high 11 boards

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Smith raced out to a 22-6 advantage during the opening six minutes before holding a 28-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Pioneers shot 11-of-14 from the floor and knocked down all four of their three-point attempts.
• MIT outscored Smith, 9-2, during the first half of the second stanza, narrowing the gap to 30-23 after Gallagher jumper in the paint. The Pioneers responded with nine unanswered points in a span of three minutes; however, a jumper from senior Cindy Si along with a free throw by classmate Alexis Groark made the score 39-26 at halftime.
• The Engineers opened the third quarter with eight straight points as a three-point play by sophomore Christina Antonakakis trimmed the deficit to 39-34 at the 7:38 mark. An exchange of baskets followed as MIT came within five on three more occasions, the last at 46-41 on Gallagher's put-back with 2:45 left. Smith replied with a 6-2 burst to close out the quarter as first-year Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) accounted for the final four points courtesy of a jumper in the paint and two free throws.
• The Engineers stayed within striking distance as they twice narrowed the gap to five, the last at 56-51 on a layup by Si with 5:17 remaining in the game. A put-back by Pickunka during the Pioneers' ensuing possession sparked their string of 12 straight points that helped them pull away for the win.

GAME NOTES

• Smith improves to 33-18 all-time against the Engineers
• The Pioneers shot 45.6% (26-of-57) from the floor, 38.9% (7-of-18) from three-point range, and 80.0% (12-of-15) at the free-throw line
• MIT shot 35.0% (21-of-60) from the floor, 30.0% (6-of-20) from behind the arc, and 80.0% (12-of-15) at the charity stripe
• The Pioneers led the way in points in the paint (32-24), points off turnovers (16-14), bench scoring (11-6), and rebounds (41-33). 

UP NEXT
Smith returns to action on Saturday, January 25 to host Wellesley at 2:00 p.m.

(Portions of this recap courtesy to MIT Athletics)

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.