BRUNSWICK, ME - The Smith College basketball team punched its ticket to the program's second consecutive NCAA Division III Final Four on Saturday night with a 52-47 win at No. 8 Bowdoin Saturday evening in the national quarterfinals inside Morrell Gymnasium. 

The Final Four appearance is the second in program history as the Pioneers improve to 29-3 on the year. The Polar Bears finish their season with a record of 24-6. 



By the Numbers

• Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) poured in a game-high 27 points and added 13 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the year
• Sofia Rosa (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) added 10 points and 10 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season
• Smith shot 33.3% (21-of-63) from the field, 12.5% (2-of-16) from the free throw line, and 72.7% (8-of-11) from the free throw line. 
• Bowdoin went 35.2% (19-of-54) from the floor, 15.8% (3-of-19), and 75% (6-of-8) from the free throw line

Game Highlights

• After a back-and-forth opening quarter that saw Smith hold a 16-12 lead, both teams struggled from the field in the second quarter as defense took command in the contest.
• The teams combined for 14 points in the second period and the Polar Bears were able to generate momentum when Megan Tan hit a three-pointer to cut the Smith lead to 23-19 at the break. 
• A 5-0 run out of the gate by Bowdoin briefly regained the lead for the Polar Bears, but Smith was able to respond throughout the second half. 
• A last-second jumper by Bowdoin gave the home team a one-point lead heading into the fourth. 
• Bowdoin held their one-point edge, 44-43, after a pair of free throws with 4:28 to go. From that point on, Smith took control using a layup by Sofia Rosa (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) and a three-point play by Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) to take the lead for good with under four minutes to go. 
• Smith's defense held Bowdoin to just 2-of-10 from the field in the fourth and Ruffner knocked down 4-of-6 from the free throw line to seal the win

Up Next
Smith will play Thursday night at 5:00pm against Wartburg College, with the winner advancing to the National Championship game on Saturday at 7:00pm. The game will take place at the Capital Center Performance Arena. 

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.
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