NORTHAMPTON - The Smith College basketball team used a strong third quarter en route to 76-63 victory over the University of New England in the opening game of the 31st Annual Tyler Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon in Ainsworth Gymnasium. 

The Pioneers, who are ranked No. 7 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Poll and No. 9 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Preseason Top 25 Poll, grabbed its first win of the season. UNE drops to 1-1. 


Highlights

• Smith jumped out to a 8-2 lead midway through the opening quarter courtesy of a layup off the tip from Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) and capped off by a fastbreak layup from Morrison. The Pioneers cushion grew to 11 but the Nor'Easters chipped away and pulled to within seven as Keagan Dunbar beat the buzzer with a layup to end the frame trailing 19-12
• UNE opened the second stanza with six points and held the Pioneers scoreless for more than four minutes before a layup by Pickunka stopped the drought. A bucket from Morrison put Smith up seven before Cameron Watkins knocked down two free throws to make it a 32-27 game in favor of Smith at the half. 
• After a basket from UNE at the 6:51 mark made it 34-33, Dashelle Gleissner's (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) three-pointer sparked a 21-7 run from Smith to go into the fourth ahead 55-40. 
• The Pioneers maintained a comfortable double-digit lead for the remainder of the fourth as Smith went on for the 76-63 final. 

Inside the Numbers

• Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) led four Pioneers in double figures with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards
• Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) added 10 points and finished with a game-high six assists
• Smith led the way in rebounds (44-30) and points off turnovers (22-18)
• The Pioneers shot 37.3 percent (22-of-59) from the floor, 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from three-point range, and 86.7 percent (26-of-30) from the free throw line
• UNE shot 37.1 percent (23-of-62) from the floor, 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from behind the arc, and 60.9 percent (14-of-23) at the charity stripe. 

Up Next
The Pioneers advance to tomorrow's championship game and will take on Rhode Island College at 4:00pm. 

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.