NORTHAMPTON - The wait is over, as No. 2 Smith returns to Ainsworth Gymnasium to kick off the 2025-26 campaign against Albertus Magnus on Saturday. The Bears host the Falcons at 1:00pm in the 34th Annual Tyler Tip Off Championship, with Cal Lutheran and Hartford playing in the 3:00pm game. On Sunday, Smith will face University of Hartford at 3:00pm. 



NO. 2/4 SMITH BEARS (0-0, 0-0 NEWMAC)
Head Coach: Lynn Hersey 
Record at Smith: 332-145 (19th season)
Career Record: 344-158 (20th season) 

TIPPING OFF

• Smith enters year 19 of the Hersey era, coming off its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and third straight Final Four after appearing in the National Championship game a season ago
• 13 return from last season's squad, while three newcomers enter the fold. Hersey picked up strong talent in the transfer portal with Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) from Wesleyan and Bre'Aria Cannon (Christiana, TN/Link Academy) from Eastern Kentucky. First year forward Ella Andrews (Boxford, MA/Dexter Southfield) rounds out the newcomers.

SMITH IN SEASON OPENERS

• Dating back to 2014, Smith has won its last 10 season openers. 
• Under Hersey, the Bears are 15-2 in their opening games

THE CAPTAINS
Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover)

• Named Preseason All-American by D3hoops.com
• NEWMAC All-Conference First Team and D3hoops.com All-Region as a sophomore
• Averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 34 starts a season ago
• Knocked down 59 triples to bring her career total to 113

Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park)

• Returns after being out all last season with injury
• Averaged 6.7 points and 1.6 boards with 18 steals as a sophomore in 2023-24
• Shot 42.5% from three-point range during her sophomore year

Maggie Fleming (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove)

• Appeared in 32 games last season
• Averaged 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds with 17 steals

Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett)

• Posted career-highs in points (9.3), rebounds (5.1), assists (16), and steals (30)
• Averaged 26.2 minutes per game in 32 starts for the Bears

Hersey is Smith's Winningest Coach

• Hersey is the winningest basketball coach in school history with 332 wins
• She has guided the Bears to five NEWMAC championships (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), seven NCAA Tournament berths (2013, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), three Final Fours (2023, 2024, 2025), and two National Championship games (2024 & 2025)
• Hersey was named the 2023 WBCA National Coach of the Year and 2024 and 2025 D3hoops.com National Coach of the Year
• She boasts an impressive 20-6 record in the NCAA Tournament
• School record 31 wins in 2024-25

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