NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 65,  Wellesley 48
Records: Pioneers 16-2, 2-1 NEWMAC, Blue 10-4, 2-1 NEWMAC

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College basketball team outscored Wellesley 23-9 in te third quarter en route to a 65-48 victory over the Blue in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tilt Saturday afternoon at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• First year Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) tallied 16 points, four rebounds and three assists
• Classmate Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) produced 12 points, five boards and two assists
• Sophomore Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) finished with nine points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and three steals

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a slow start to the game where neither team could pull away, back-to-back three-pointers from Clairmont and Ruffner with under a minute in the first quarter resulted in a 19-12 Smith lead at the end of the opening period.

Alyssa Cho connected on back-to-back shots to tie the game at 22-22 with 3:53 left in the half. Clairmont's layup with 40 seconds on the clock gave the Pioneers a 28-26 edge at halftime. 

Smith opened the third on a 10-3 run and would outscore Wellesley 23-9 in the quarter to go into the fourth ahead 51-35.

The Pioneers maintained their cushion throughout the final period for the 65-48 victory. 


GAME NOTES

• Smith improves to 46-27 all-time against Wellesley and is 10-0 at home this season
• The Pioneers shot 49.0% (24-of-49) from the floor, 35.3% (6-of-17) from three-point range, and 84.6% (11-of-13) at the free-throw line
• Wellesley shot 32.7% (18-of-55) from the field, 16.7% (2-of-12) from behind the arc, and 62.5% (10-of-16) at the charity stripe
• The Pioneers dominated the glass, 26-24

UP NEXT
Smith travels to Wheaton on Wednesday, January 29th for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.

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.