DARTMOUTH - The No. 3 Smith basketball team used a dominant defensive effort and 47 bench points to roll past UMass Dartmouth, 83-38, on Wednesday evening at Tripp Athletic Center. The Bears moved to 3-0 after leading wire-to-wire while outrebounding the Corsairs 50-25.

Smith began the first quarter with a strong performance, securing a 20-14 lead over UMass Dartmouth. Kate Hackney (Thousand Oaks, CA/Bishop Alemany) opened the scoring with a layup and a free throw, assisted by Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest), at 8:57. Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park) added to the Bears' momentum with two 3-pointers, the first coming at 6:31. UMass Dartmouth's Kaila Pruitt kept the home team competitive, hitting two 3-pointers, the first tying the game at 3-3 at 8:25. Despite UMass Dartmouth's late jumper by Yasmine Santos with 8 seconds left, the Bears maintained their advantage, highlighted by Maggie Fleming's (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove) fast-break layup at 1:15.

Smith dominated the second quarter, outscoring UMass Dartmouth 20-3. Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) was pivotal, contributing a 3-pointer at 8:28 with an assist from Bre'Aria Cannon (Christiana, TN/Link Academy) and adding multiple free throws, totaling a season-high 17 points. Cannon also added a layup at 7:34 and facilitated scoring opportunities with defensive rebounds. The Bears' defense stifled UMass Dartmouth, limiting them to one field goal—a 3-pointer by Riley Graveline at 3:40. Smith capitalized on turnovers, with Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) and Kate Hackney (Thousand Oaks, CA/Bishop Alemany) each scoring in the paint to extend the lead.

Smith College dominated the third quarter with a strong offensive performance, outscoring UMass Dartmouth 24-8. Hackney opened the scoring for the Bears with a layup at 9:10, contributing to an early lead. Johnson hit a 3-pointer at 7:22, extending the Bears' advantage. Mya Williams (Temple City, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial) was effective from the free-throw line, converting six free throws by the end of the quarter, helping her achieve a career-high 9 points. Fongemie capped off the quarter with a 3-pointer at 1:02, ensuring a commanding lead for Smith heading into the final quarter.

The Bears dominated the final quarter, securing a 19-13 quarter score to solidify their victory over UMass Dartmouth. Maggie Fleming (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove) contributed significantly with a layup and two free throws, while Jillian Nowicki (San Diego, CA/Our Lady of Peace) added a 3-pointer at 2:15 and completed two free throws at 0:55. Smith's defensive efforts were notable, with Nowicki and Alina Abdulina (Moscow, Russia/Hoosac School) each recording a block, helping limit UMass Dartmouth's scoring opportunities. Despite a brief scoring surge by UMass Dartmouth, highlighted by Riley Graveline's and Jillian Doherty's 3-pointers, the Bears maintained control throughout the quarter.

Smith Top Performers

Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep)  
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- 17 points  
- 3 3-pointers  

Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest)  
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- 11 points  
- 8 rebounds  
- 2 blocks  

Kate Hackney (Thousand Oaks, CA/Bishop Alemany)  
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- 9 points  
- 3 steals  
- 6 rebounds  

Mya Williams (Temple City, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial)  
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- 9 points  
- 7/8 free throws made  
- 6 rebounds  

Up Next
Smith travels to Johnson and Wales University on Saturday, November 22 at 1:00pm.

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 onto GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram