NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 79,  Coast Guard 67
Records: Pioneers 19-4, 5-3 NEWMAC, Bears 14-9, 3-5 NEWMAC

NEW LONDON, Conn. - A 17-6 run to close out the fourth quarter created a double-digit cushion as the Smith College basketball team defeated the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 79-67, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) matchup Wednesday evening. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• First-year Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) led all players with a career-high 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 mark from three-point range.
• Junior Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School) produced 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists.
• Sophomore Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) finished with a season-best 16 points to go along with eight boards and four assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers used a huge surge after trailing by four, 59-55 to open the fourth quarter. Ruffner and Gleissner combined for 17 points in the fourth period as the Pioneers outshot Coast Guard, 24-8. Smith scored the opening seven points of the quarter, to take a 62-59 lead. Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) scored a three-pointer for Smith with 5:50 remaining, sparking a 10-2 run to open the Pioneers lead, 72-63. Smith scored the final four points of the game for the 79-67 final.
 
Emma Puddington scored eight points in first as Coast Guard outscored Smith 25-22 in the opening quarter. 
 
Smith came out in the second half with a 12-2 run to take a 34-27 lead. Hartman responded, scoring the following five points to bring the Bears within two, 34-32 with 2:48 remaining in the half. Smith scored the last five points of the half to hold a 39-32 advantage. 


GAME NOTES

• Smith has won its last six meetings against the Bears and improves to 14-3 all-time.
• The Pioneers shot 43.4% (33-of-76) from the floor and 33.3% (8-of-24) from three-point range.
• Coast Guard went 27-of-66 (40.9%) from the field and 34.8% (8-of-23) from behind-the-arc.
• Smith dominated the glass, holding a 51-31 advantage in rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers return to the hardwood with a home game against Mount Holyoke Wednesday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m.

(Portions of this recap courtesy to Coast Guard 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.