MEDFORD, Mass. - The Smith College basketball team dropped a 78-69 decision to No. 8 Tufts University Monday evening at Cousens Gymnasium. Just the second loss of the year for the Pioneers who fall to 15-2 on the year. With the win, Tufts improves to 16-2 on the year.

How It Happened
Both teams started the game hot, trading baskets and keeping the game tight throughout the first quarter. Smith's Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) got the game started with a jumper that was quickly answered by an Angela Alibrandi layup for the Jumbos. The teams would continue to go back and forth until Tufts went on a 6-0 run on two consecutive three-pointers from Annika Decker and Poindexter McHan to take a 10-6 lead. This was followed by three-pointers for each team as Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) sunk one that was followed by another by Decker to keep the four-point lead for Tufts. Neither team managed to get any runs going for the remainder of the quarter, and the game went into the second quarter with a 22-20 score in favor of Tufts.

Smith found success in the second quarter, outscoring the Jumbos 23-15 with junior Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) and Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) combining for more than half of the team's second quarter points, each scoring six. Pickunka's six points came consecutively on two layups and a mid-range jumper just over two minutes into the quarter to give Smith a 30-26 lead. After Tufts broke up the Smith run with an Alibrandi layup and Poindexter McHan free throw, the Pioneers would separate themselves again, going on a 13-8 run kick-started by a Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) three-pointer. The Pioneers headed into the locker room with a 43-37 lead.

The third quarter is when the Jumbos started to come alive, outscoring the Pioneers 23-18 and starting the quarter on a 15-6 run. Rosa scored eight points during the run, including two consecutive layups. The teams would trade baskets for the remaining five minutes of the quarter and by the end of the third, Smith was clinging to a 61-60 lead.

The Jumbos regained the lead immediately in the fourth quarter on another Rosa layup and would not look back, outscoring the Pioneers 18-8 in the fourth quarter, including another Decker three-pointer that started a 7-1 run to close out the game with the 78-69 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Morrison was Smith's leading scorer, finishing with 16 points and four rebounds, shooting 7 for 10 from the field. 
• Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) added 15 points, three rebounds and two steals
• Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) totaled five assists and two boards
• Smith shot 30-of-59 from the field, 4-of-16 from three-point range and 5-of-15 from the charity stripe

Up Next
Smith will return to conference play on Wednesday, February 2 at 6:00 p.m.

(Portions of this recap courtesy to Tufts 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.