NORTHAMPTON - The fifth-ranked Smith College basketball team held off a late rally by the Jumbos to earn a 70-60 win over Tufts University Monday evening in Ainsworth Gymnasium. 

With the win, head coach Lynn Hersey's squad has won 11 straight to improve to 17-1 on the year. Tufts falls to 12-6 with the loss. 

Game Highlights

• Back-to-back three-pointers by Amelia Clarimont put Smith up 11-5 with 5:50 left in the first. Morgan Morrison's (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) layup gave Smith a 14-8 lead but a three-pointer from Annika Decker trimmed the lead to 14-11 at the end of the first
• The Pioneers used a 10-0 run to open the second stanza as Ally Yamada (Seal Beach, Calif./Fairmont Prep Academy) connected on three 3-pointers in the quarter to give Smith a 34-23 edge at halftime
• Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) connected on a pair of free throws to open the third quarter and the Smith defense held Tufts scoreless until Sophia Davis' bucket with 5:29 on the clock sparked a 5-0 run to come within eight (36-28). Smith responded with an 18-4 run to close out the quarter ahead 46-32
• The Jumbos stayed within striking distance as it narrowed the gap to six after a three-pointer by Annika Decker with 3:35 remaining. Smith quickly widened the margin courtesy of a 6-0 run to make it 62-50 and would connect on 8-of-10 free throws in the final minutes for the 70-60 final

By the Numbers

• Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) recorded her eighth double-double of the year, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks
• Ruffner added 16 points, seven boards, four assists and two blocks, while Clairmont chipped in 11 points
• Ally Yamada (Seal Beach, Calif./Fairmont Prep Academy) knocked down three treys to finish with 15 points off the bench
• Smith won the battle on the glass with 42 rebounds compared to Tufts' 29
• The Pioneers shot 40 percent (22-of-55) from the floor, 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from three-point range, and 70.4 percent (19-of-27) from the free throw line
• Tufts shot 37.1 percent (23-of-61) from the floor, 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from behind the arc, and 50.0 percent (5-of-10) at the charity stripe.

Up Next
Smith returns to NEWMAC action on Saturday, January 28 for a 1:00pm road game at Mount Holyoke. 

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.