NORTHAMPTON -
Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif./Serra) scored 13 of her game-high 18 points in the first quarter as Smith College cruised to an 80-45 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) win over Emerson College Wednesday night in Ainsworth Gymnasium.
With the win, the fifth-ranked Pioneers secured its second-straight NEWMAC regular season title and improved to 23-1 overall and 9-0 in conference action. Emerson dropped to 8-16 overall and 3-6 in the NEWMAC.
How it Happened
- A layup by Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) 5 seconds into the game ignited a string of nine unanswered points by Smith. Emerson got on the scoreboard courtesy of a jumper with 7:04 on the clock. The Pioneers went on to establish a 27-14 advantage at the end of the frame
- A low scoring second period resulted in a 37-18 halftime lead
- After a 4-0 run by Smith to open the third, the teams exchanged baskets over the next few minutes until Amelia Clairmont's (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) three-point play at the end of the quarter put the Pioneers ahead 58-32
- In the fourth, the Pioneers outscored Emerson 22-13, resulting in the final score
By the Numbers
- Gleissner also added five rebounds, five assists and three steals
- Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) totaled 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists
- Cassidy Creager (Fairview, PA/Villa Maria Academy) chipped in 11 points off the bench
- The Pioneers led the way in bench scoring (31-11), rebounds (36-30), and points in the paint (44-32)
- Smith shot 50% (32-of-64) from the floor, 36.4%(8-of-22) from three-point range, and 80% (8-of-10) from the free throw line
- Emerson shot 33.9% (21-of-62) from the field, 13.3% (2-of-15) from long distance and 50% (1-of-2) from the free throw line
Up Next
Smith will wrap up the regular season Saturday at 1:00pm at Wellesley.
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.
