NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Smith 62,  New Paltz
Records: Pioneers 26-4, Hawks 25-4

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - The Smith College basketball team rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat New Paltz 62-60 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament Saturday evening in the Hawk Center. First-year Amelia Clairmont's (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) driving bucket with 1.8 seconds remaining would be the game-winner as Smith's stout defense prevented any shot attempt at the buzzer. 

Smith, which is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance, advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. In head coach Lynn Hersey's 13th season, the Pioneers improve to 26-4, a school record for wins in a season.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Clairmont finished with a game-high 20 points, including 4-of-8 shooting from behind the arc
• Sophomore Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) added eight points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the 40 minutes of play
• Junior forward Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School) totaled seven points and hauled in nine boards

HOW IT HAPPENED
Smith jumped out to a 9-3 lead as sophomore forward Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) scored eight of Smith's points in the opening 3:51. Back-to-back three-pointers from the Hawks knotted the game at 9-9 as Smith would finish the quarter on an 8-3 run to end the quarter with a 17-12 lead.

In the second, the Pioneers lead would grow to as large as 10 on a jumper from Gleissner at the 2:26 mark and Smith would take a 33-25 advantage into halftime.

The third quarter saw New Paltz erase their deficit and take a 44-43 lead on a Maddie Van Pelt bucket in the paint with 1:41 on the clock. 

The team's entered the final frame tied 47-47 before a 10-0 run from New Paltz gave them a 57-47 cushion with 5:21 remaining in the game. A Clairmont trey on the next possession ignited an 8-3 run which brought Smith to within five (60-55) at the 2:34 mark. After a missed layup by the Hawk, Clairmont drained a three-pointer to make it a two point game and first-year forward Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) tied things up with just over a minute left. Smith would call a timeout and set the stage for Clairmont's heroics in the final seconds. New Paltz would have a chance to tie, but was unable to get any shot attempt off.

QUOTES ON THE WIN
"I think (my team) took the energy New Paltz fans had for their team and used it to fuel them," Pioneers head coach Lynn Hersey said. "I would say confidently that this group loves playing in front of crowds."

"I define my role as a distributor as much as I can," Gleissner said. "I'm not as vocal as (Whalen), but I am there for steals that you wouldn't expect."

"When things get rowdy, I go and calm people down and keep our team together," Smith junior guard and captain Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville High School). "A lot of times, that is bringing the team together during dead balls and reminding them of small things, or encouraging somebody like, 'Hey, you got the next one.' I think we do best when we are encouraging each other and celebrating each other."

"We looked at each other on the court and we talked a lot about (a win) and how much we want it together," Clairmont said. "It sends you into a different mode, like, 'We don't want this to end.'"

UP NEXT
The Pioneers will play No. 17 Messiah on Friday, March 13 at 5:00 p.m. at Tufts 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.