NEED TO KNOW:
Score: No. 3 Smith 70,  No. 4 MIT 56
Records: Pioneers 24-4, Engineers 15-12

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - For the first time in program history, the Smith College basketball team won the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Championship (NEWMAC), defeating MIT, 70-56, on Sunday afternoon in Ainsworth Gymnasium. First-year Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after averaging 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 points throughout the tournament's three games.

With the victory, Smith secures an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The bracket will be revealed on Monday at 2:30 p.m. on NCAA.com. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Junior Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School) put forth a dominating effort, finishing with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and three steals.
• Ruffner produced 15 points, four steals and two assists.
• Sophomore Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) added 11 points, eight assists and two steals.
• MIT was led by Jocelyn Luizzi's 16 points and 15 boards.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Smith opened the game with eight unanswered points before creating a 21-4 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Pioneers shot 56.3% from the floor and were led by sophomore Katelyn Pickunka's (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) six points.

Despite the deficit, MIT continued to attack, capitalizing on a jumper late in the frame and then a put-back by Luizzi right before time expired to make the score 34-20 at halftime.

An 11-1 in the third quarter brought them within 45-38 with 1:52 left in the frame. Kylie Gallagher fueled the rally with six points. The Pioneers countered with a steal and fast-break layup from Gleissner to close out the quarter.

Smith carried the momentum into the final frame as it increased its cushion to 53-39 at the 6:15 mark. Back-to-back three-point plays from the Engineers in less than minute kept MIT within striking distance. However, the Pioneers responded with an 8-3 burst which resulted in a 61-48 advantage with 4:33 left to play and then they maintained their double-digit margin down the stretch.

 
GAME NOTES

• Smith improves to 33-18 all-time against the Engineers.
• Set a program record for wins (24).
• MIT had a 31-28 edge in rebounds but Smith ended the day with advantages in points off turnovers (22-3), points in the paint (44-22), second-chance points (8-7), fast -break scoring (22-5), and bench scoring (7-5).
• The Pioneers shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the floor, 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from behind the arc, and 52.9 percent (9-of-17) at the charity stripe.
• The Engineers shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the floor, 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from three-point range, and 76.5 percent (13-of-17) at the free throw line.

COACH HERSEY ON THE WIN
"It's a great feeling," Hersey said. "I'm just so proud of our team, our players, they really dedicated themselves throughout the last five months trying to be the best version of Smith basketball we could be."

"LJ has been our leader from day one and I'm really excited for her that she was able to have such a monstrous game today," Hersey said. "Her leadership is what has helped this group get to this point."

On Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin): "We're fortunate that her career's just beginning here. She's a baller, she has great instincts, she's fearless and she plays hard."

UP NEXT
Smith will learn about the location and its opponent in the upcoming NCAA Tournament during the selection show on Monday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.



(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.