NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 82,  Clark 57
Records: Pioneers 21-4, 7-3 NEWMAC, Cougars 6-19,  2-8 NEWMAC

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College basketball team outscored Clark 22-7 in the third quarter to pull away for an 82-57 win over the Cougars in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest Saturday afternoon in Ainsworth Gymnasium. The Pioneers have clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming NEWMAC Women's Basketball Championship and will host a quarterfinal game against the No. 6 seed Emerson on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sophomore Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) finished with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds.
• First-year Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) tallied 15 points, nine boards, four assists and four steals.
• Sophomore Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) tied her career-high with 12 assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Smith kicked off the game with a 12-0 run, propelling it to a 25-13 lead at the end of the quarter. The Pioneers connected on 4-of-6 from three-point range with Pickunka going 4-of-4 with nine points.
• The second stanza saw Smith's advantage grow to 31-24 at the 6:17 mark, but the Cougars clawed their way back into the game, closing the half on a 13-5 run, moving the score to 39-34 at the halftime.
• Smith used the third period to pull away as Clairmont's trey capped a 14-2 run and increase their advantage to 61-41 at the end of the period.
• The Pioneers maintained their comfortable lead throughout the fourth and cruised to the 82-57 final score.

GAME NOTES

• Smith improves to 20-32 all-time against the Cougars and has won the last four meetings.
• The Pioneers finish the regular season with a 13-1 home record.
• Pickunka recorded her fifth double-double of the season.
• Smith shot 46.2% (30-of-65) from the floor, 37.9% (11-of-29) from three-point range, and 42.3% (11-of-26) from the free-throw line.
• Clark shot 31.1% (23-of-74) from the field, 18.2% (4-of-22) from behind the arc, and 53.8% (7-of-13) from the charity stripe.
• Smith ended the night with a 47-37 advantage in rebounds.

UP NEXT
The NEWMAC Women's Basketball Championship begins on Wednesday with the quarterfinals at the highest seed. Semifinals will be held on Friday, February 26 followed by the finals on Sunday, March 1.



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.