BRUNSWICK, Maine - BRUNSWICK, ME - Senior guard Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) scored the game-winning layup with seven seconds left in regulation to lift the 14th-ranked Smith College basketball team to a 61-59 win over University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the sectional round of the NCAA Tournament Friday evening inside Morrell Gymnasium. 

The Elite 8 appearance is the second in program history as the Pioneers improve to 28-3 on the year. The Titans finish their season with a record of 24-6. 



By the Numbers

• Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) led the way with 23 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals
• Jane Loo (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) converted 6-of-9 from the floor to finish with 14 points
• Sofia Rosa (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) contributed 11 points and eight rebounds
• Smith went 23-of-53 (43.4%) from the field, 5-of-10 (50%) from 3-point range and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line 
• The Titans shot 22-of-59 (37.3%) from the floor, 11-of-25 (44%) from beyond the 3-point arc, and 4-of-4 at the foul line

Game Highlights

• Smith took control early and held an 8-2 lead before UW-Oshkosh responded with an 11-2 run to close the period and take a 13-10 edge after one period
• After a Ruffner layup in transition, Selam Maher (Hopkins, MN/St. Louis Park) buried a three-pointer and Smith generated an 11-0 spurt to go up 21-13 with 6:33 on the clock. The Titans knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to come within 26-23 and the two teams would go into halftime with Smith ahead 30-28. 
• The third quarter featured one tie and seven lead changes as Ruffner's two free throws at the end of the period gave Smith a 45-40 lead heading into the fourth
• After a layup by the Titans, Smith scored six straight to pull ahead 51-42 midway through the final period. UW-Oshkosh caught fire from deep, knocking down three 3-pointers in just over a minute to come within 55-51. Loo's jumper with 2:13 remaining made it 59-53 but the Titans chipped away at the lead and tied the game on Huml's jumper with 22 seconds on the clock. Ruffner's game-winner came on a driving layup as the Titans baseline jumper as time expired fell short. 

Up Next
Smith will face No. 8 Bowdoin in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Saturday at 7:00pm in Morrell Gymnasium. The host Polar bears beat Baldwin Wallace 78-48 in the other sectional game on Friday night. 

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.