NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Smith College (1-0) defeated Albertus Magnus College (0-1) 78-44, at Ainsworth Gymnasium with a dominant 47-23 rebounding advantage in the opening game of the Tyler Tip-Off Tournament.
Smith College started the game strong with
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) sinking a three-pointer at 9:19, assisted by
Bre'Aria Cannon (Christiana, TN/Link Academy). The Bears continued to build their lead with
Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park) hitting another three-pointer at 7:57, extending the score to 6-2. Adriana Debernardo answered for Albertus Magnus with a layup at 8:28, but the Bears maintained momentum.
Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) and
Mya Williams (Temple City, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial) contributed with key plays, including Sylvester's layup at 6:43 and Williams' free throw at 2:23. By the end of the first quarter, the Bears led 20-9, with
Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) closing the quarter by adding two free throws.
Smith extended their lead in the second quarter, executing a strong performance on both ends of the court.
Bre'Aria Cannon (Christiana, TN/Link Academy) contributed a layup at 9:28, setting the tone for their offensive efforts. Keira Reynolds narrowed the gap for Albertus Magnus with a three-pointer at 9:08, assisted by Ariellys Velez, but the Bears maintained control. The home team showcased defensive resilience, with
Maggie Fleming (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove) recording a block at 8:15.
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) capped the quarter with a three-pointer at 0:52, assisted by Fleming, as the Bears outscored Albertus Magnus 18-9 in the quarter, bringing the score to 38-18.
Smith expanded their lead over Albertus Magnus in the third quarter with a strong performance in the paint.
Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) contributed a layup at 7:55, increasing the home team's score to 40-19. Albertus Magnus responded with Ava Johnson's layup and free throw combination, narrowing the gap to 40-22. However, the Bears maintained control as
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) nailed a three-pointer at 4:43, bringing the score to 45-28. The home team continued their momentum, with
Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran) adding a layup at 2:06 to push the lead to 55-31. The Bears ended the third quarter ahead, 59-34, following a late layup by
Kate Hackney (Thousand Oaks, CA/Bishop Alemany).
Smith secured a decisive victory over Albertus Magnus with a strong performance in the final quarter, outscoring their opponents 19-10.
Mya Williams (Temple City, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial) led the charge with a layup at 8:08, assisted by
Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep), to extend the lead.
Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) also contributed with a crucial 3-pointer at 5:04, pushing the lead further.
Kate Hackney (Thousand Oaks, CA/Bishop Alemany) added back-to-back layups around the 4:30 mark, solidifying the home team's dominance. Albertus Magnus struggled with shooting, hitting only 3 of 15 field goals, while the Bears capitalized on their opportunities to close out the game with a sturdy defensive and offensive effort.
Smith Top Performers
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest)
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- 17 points
- 3 3-pointers
- 8 rebounds
Bre'Aria Cannon (Christiana, TN/Link Academy)
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- 8 points
- 3 assists
- 8 rebounds
Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep)
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- 9 points
- 4/6 free throws made
- 1 steal
UP NEXT
Smith returns to Ainsworth Gymnasium tomorrow afternoon as they face off against the Hartford Hawks in the second game of the Tyler Tip-Off Tournament. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm.
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
