NORTHAMPTON - Senior Guard Ally Yamada (Seal Beach, CA/Fairmont Prep Academy) tied her career-high with 28 points as the Smith basketball team cruised to a 74-56 victory against Hamilton Tuesday evening inside Ainsworth Gymnasium. The Pioneers, who are ranked No. 13 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches' Association Top 25 Poll, improve to 11-2 on the year. Hamilton falls to 12-3. 



Inside the Numbers

• Yamada shot 12-of-19 from the field and knocked down four 3-pointers
• Senior guard Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) added 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while junior guard Jane Loo (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) poured in 10 points and grabbed eight boards
• Hamilton was led by Taylor Lambo's 14 points and six rebounds
• Smith shot 52.5% (32-of-61) from the floor, 33.3% (5-of-15) from long distance, and 50% (5-of-10) from the free throw line
• The Continentals shot 38.6% (22-of-57) from the field, 1-of-11 (9.1%) from three-point range, and 80% (4-of-5) from the free throw line
• The Pioneers ended the night with advantages in rebounds (40-24), points in the paint (48-34), and points off turnovers (14-7)

Game Highlights

• After trailing early 4-0, Smith rattled off 11 points on baskets by Loo, Ruffner and Sofia Rosa (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury). Smith established a 19-9 advantage with 1:07 on the clock but Hamilton's Tessa Cole drained two free throws at the end of the quarter to make it 19-11. 
• Smith shot 58.8% from the field in the second period and gradually built a 16-point lead (41-25) going into halftime courtesy of a Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) steal and layup as time expired 
• Yamada buried a three-pointer to make it 56-38 with 4:33 left in the third period and both teams would go scoreless until a steal and halfcourt buzzer beater by Yamada gave Smith its largest lead of the game at 59-38
• Smith continued to control the action in the final quarter to secure the 74-56 win

Up Next
The Pioneers begin its NEWMAC slate on Saturday when they host WPI at 2:00pm. 

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 and Instagram.