COLUMBUS, OH - Adding another milestone to a historic season, the 14th-ranked Smith basketball team advanced to the program's first National Championship game with a 61-54 overtime win over No. 6 Wartburg College on Thursday evening. The Pioneers, who were led by a combined 46 points by Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) and Ally Yamada (Seal Beach, CA/Fairmont Prep Academy), won its 16th straight game and improved to 30-3 on the year. 



By the Numbers

• Yamada drained six 3-pointers in the second half and overtime to finish with 24 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals
• Ruffner posted her 13th double-double of the year with 22 points and 14 rebounds
• Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) added eight points, six boards, and three assists
• Smith shot 35% (21-of-60) from the field, 33.3% (8-of-24) from behind the arc, and 84.6% (11-of-13) from the free throw line
• Wartburg went 33.9% (19-of-56) from the floor, 35.3% (6-of-17), from 3-point range, and 76.9% (10-of-13) from the free throw line
• The Knights owned a 44-33 advantage in rebounds and owned a 26-18 edge in points in the paint

Game Highlights

• Smith got back-to-back threes from Yamada and Marting to generate a 6-5 edge 3:09 into the game. The two teams exchanged baskets before Taylor Runchey's three-point play put Wartburg ahead 17-13 at the end of the first. 
• After a tight opening half that saw both teams struggle to score, Wartburg held a 22-18 edge at the break.
• Smith stormed back early in the third quarter, going on a 12-2 run that ended with a layup by Ruffner with 4:41 on the clock. Yamada pulled up for a jumper that closed out the quarter to put Smith up 35-31 going into the fourth.
• In a game of runs, Wartburg chipped away at Smith's lead and got to within one on Lauren Woeste's free throw with 41 seconds on the clock. Ruffner responded with a layup 13 seconds on the clock, but the Knights buried a 3-pointer to tie the game with four seconds left in regulation. Yamada's open look from three fell shot and the game went to overtime
• Yamada knocked down a three-pointer on Smith's first possession in overtime and would lead the rest of the game. With Smith holding a 54-51 lead with 39 seconds left in overtime, Ruffner sealed the game with an and-one at the rim to give the Pioneers a six-point advantage.

Up next
Smith will play No. 1 NYU in the National Championship game on Saturday, March 16 at 7:00pm 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.