HARTFORD, CT - The Smith College basketball team thwarted off a late rally to hold on for a 71-68 overtime win against Trinity College Sunday afternoon in Oosting Gymnasium.

The seventh-ranked Pioneers move to 5-0 on the year, while Trinity loses its first game of the season and dips to 2-1. 

How it Happened

• The Bantams rushed out to a 9-2 lead before Smith closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run
• The Pioneers momentum continued in the second quarter, outscoring the hosts 15-5, while shooting 77.8% from the floor in the frame
• Ella Sylvester put Smith up 12-11 on a jumper to open the quarter and the 9-0 run was capped off by Katelyn Pickunka's (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) layup with 3:59 remaining
• Emma Wax made Trinity's only basket of the quarter as the Pioneers took a 25-16 advantage into halftime
• Two free throw from Morrison gave Smith's largest lead at 35-23 midway through the third quarter but Trinity clawed back to come within 37-36 going into the fourth
• Smith led 51-48 after a reverse layup by Pickunka but Wax scored on a drive to cut Trinity's lead to one. 
• Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) knocked down one of two free throws for Smith, however the Bantams forced overtime on an inbounds play with 21 second on the clock
• The extra period saw the teams exchange baskets until Smith was able to pull ahead 68-62 with 40 seconds on the clock
• The Bantams continued to fight its way back and came withing 70-68 on a put-back by Indi Del Rocco with six seconds on the clock
• Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) knocked down a free throw and a last second shot from Trinity fell short as Smith came away with the 71-68 victory

Inside the Numbers

• Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) scored a season-high 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds
• Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) finished with 17 points and two assists, while Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) added 14 points, eight boards and three steals
• The Pioneers shot 52.9% (27-of-51) from the floor, 25.0% (3-of-12) from three-point range, and 60.9% (14-of-23) from the free-throw line
• The Bantams shot 35.0% (21-of-60) from the field, 20.0% (5-of-25) from behind the arc, and 65.6% (21-of-32) at the charity stripe.
• Trinity won the battle on the boards (35-31), but Smith ended the night with advantaged in points on the paint (44-26) and points off turnovers (15-12) 
• The Pioneers have now won five-straight over the Bantams

Up Next
Smith will host Eastern Connecticut State University Thursday at 6:00pm. 

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.