NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 81,  No. 20 DeSales 72
Records: Pioneers 25-4, Bulldogs 23-5

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - The Smith College basketball team shot 65.2% from the field to take down No. 20 DeSales University Friday night in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament. 

The Pioneers advance to the second round where they will face New Paltz on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

BY THE NUMBERS

• First-year guard Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) led the offensive effort with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field to go along with five rebounds
• Sophomore forward Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) went 7-of-9 from the floor to finish with 18 points, seven boards, and three steals
• Sophomore guard Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) tallied 16 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals
• Averi Jordan finished with 30 points for the bulldogs

HOW IT HAPPENED
The game started with back-to-back buckets from each team before an 8-3 spurt from DeSales put them up 10-5 3:09 into the game. A three-pointer from Gleissner brought Smith to within one, 13-12, but the Bulldogs responded with a trey from Jordan. With under 30 seconds in the period, first-year guard Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) put Smith ahead 25-20, however, DeSales responded with a quick basket to make it 25-22 at the end of the first.

Smith continued its hot shooting in the second, going up 31-24 on a Pickunka basket in the paint, but a 7-0 run from the Bulldogs tied the game with 5:47 on the clock. A three-pointer from Ruffner to beat the shotclock and two free throws from first-year Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) gave Smith a 39-31 edge at the 2:53 mark. DeSales continued to hang around, trimming the lead to 41-36 at the half.

In the third, Smith's lead grew to 12 on a trey from Clairmont as the Pioneers outscored their opponent 22-16 in the quarter. The team's went into the final period with Smith ahead 63-52.

The fourth quarter started with the two teams exchanging baskets in the opening minute, but at the 5:21 mark Smith built their lead up to 17 points (74-57). The Bulldogs fought back and pressured the Smith guards to force turnovers and get to within nine (78-69) with under a minute to go, but a three-pointer from Clairmont with 21 seconds on the clock put the game away. 

GAME NOTES

• Smith improves to 3-0 all-time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
• The Pioneers dominated the glass, outrebounding the opposition, 37-30 and accumulated 42 points in the paint
• Smith shot 65.2% (30-of-46) from the floor, 47.1% (8-of-17) from behind the arc and 65.0% (11-of-20) at the charity stripe
• The Bulldogs were 39.5% (30-of-76) from the field, 23.8% (5-of-21) from three-point range, and 58.3% (7-of-12) at the free throw line

UP NEXT
The Pioneers will continue their post-season journey tomorrow evening in the Hawk Center. Smith will take on a talented New Paltz team in the NCAA Second Round at 7:00 p.m. New Paltz won their First Round game (69-50) over the Eagles from Husson University. 



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.