WHITEWATER, Wisc. - The 16th-ranked Smith College basketball season saw its season come to an end in heartbreaking fashion as a steal and layup in the final seconds of the game gave No. 12 Wisconsin-Whitewater a 78-76 overtime win on a buzzer beater in overtime in third-round game of the 2022 NCAA Division III Championship at Kachel Gymnasium.
The Pioneers, who were playing their first-ever Sweet 16 game, finish the year with an overall record of 25-3.
Top Performers
- Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) scored a career-high 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to finish with seven double-doubles on the year
- Elle Jo Whalen (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville) notched 10 points and six rebounds
- Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) chipped in 14 points, while Ally Yamada (Seal Beach, Calif./Fairmont Prep Academy) added 13 off the bench
How it Happened
The Warhawks jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Smith rallied for the next 11 points to take an 11-6 lead midway through the first quarter. IA jumper from Maggie Trautsch made the score 19-18 in favor of UW-W at the end of the first period. In the opening stanza, Whalen was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field to give the Pioneers their first six points of the game.
After a three-pointer from UW-Whitewater put them up six, the Pioneers responded with a 9-0 run for a three-point lead just over three minutes later. Neither team led by more than one possession over the final half of the period, and UW-W held a 36-34 advantage.
The third quarter remained tightly contested until Yssa Sto. Domingo hit a 3-pointer between a pair of baskets by Aleah Grundahl for a 51-43 UW-W lead with 2:08 remaining. The Warhawk lead grew to as many as nine, but Smith trimmed its deficit to four by the end of the third.
The two teams went back and forth to begin the fourth quarter before Smith climbed out of a seven point deficit with 4:50 on the clock. UW-W led 65-63 with 2:25 remaining and Morrison would send the game to overtime on a layup with nine seconds left in regulation.
In the overtime period, Smith held a five-point lead with 1:07 to go before Trautsch was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line in the final minute to tie the game. Smith had a chance to win on an inbounds with seven seconds left but a steal and game-winning layup by Schumacher sent the Warhawks to the Elite 8.
UW-W converted 27-of-36 (75 percent) from the free-throw line and hit 9-of-20 (45 percent) from 3-point range. The Pioneers shot 46.9 percent from the floor and held a 48-22 advantage in points in the paint.
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.
