CAMBRIDGE - The Smith College basketball team outscored MIT 21-12 in the third quarter as the Pioneers earned a 73-60 win at MIT Wednesday evening in Rockwell Cage. With the win, Smith, who is ranked No. 8 in the latest D3hoops.com and WBCA Top 25 Poll, improves to 11-1 on the year, while the Engineers drop to 5-7.

Game Highlights

• MIT gradually built a 20-15 lead after a layup by Grace Harrington with 15 seconds left in the first quarter. Smith responded with an Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) jumper at the buzzer
• A layup by Kamsi Nwogu and a pair of baskets by Alice Hall increased the Engineers' margin to 26-17 at the 6:17 mark of the second stanza. The Pioneers chipped away at the deficit as a steal and a fastbreak layup by Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) brought the visitors within 34-32 with 1:05 on the clock. MIT capped the first-half scoring with a free throw from Elise Harvey
• A jumper by Morrison 16 seconds into the third quarter sparked Smith's pivotal 11-0 run. A layup by Nwogu midway through the frame kicked off an exchange of baskets until a jumper by Sylvester increased the Pioneers' advantage to 53-43 with 53 seconds remaining. The Engineers replied with a 4-0 run to wrap up the quarter
• An Egineer layup 10 seconds into the fourth quarter brought MIT within 53-49. Smith used a Gleissner basket and a Morrison three-point play to create some breathing room, however, the Engineers once again came within four (60-56) after two free throws at the 5:55 mark. Two minutes later, Sylvester drained a layup and then Morrison added a free throw with 3:12 on the clock. Another defensive battle ensued until two more Choi free throws narrowed the gap to 63-58 with 1:32 remaining. Smith's Jesse Ruffner went 4-for-4 at the charity stripe during the next 18 seconds as the Pioneers pulled away for a 73-60 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Morrison scored a game-high 24 points to go along with five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal
• Ruffner totaled 18 points and five boards, while Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) added 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
• Jazmyn Washington (Los Angeles, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) grabbed a career-high nine rebounds to lead all players
• Both teams collected 39 rebounds while Smith led the way in points in the paint (36-28), points off turnovers (17-10), second-chance points (10-8), and bench scoring (13-11)
• The Pioneers shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) from the floor, 20 percent (2-of-10) from behind the arc, and 86.4 percent (19-of-22) at the charity stripe
• MIT shot 36.9 percent (24-of-65) from the floor, 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from three-point range, and 80 percent (8-of-10) from the free throw line

Up Next
Smith will return to action on Saturday, January 7 at 1:00pm when it hosts Springfield.

(Portions of this recap courtesy to MIT 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.