SOUTH HADLEY - First-year Jillian Nowicki (San Diego, CA/Our Lady of Peace) had a game-high 12 points to power the sixth-ranked Smith College basketball team to a 81-30 win at Mount Holyoke College Wednesday in NEWMAC action. The Pioneers improve to 20-2 on the year with an 8-0 mark in the NEWMAC. The Lyons are now 4-18 overall and 0-8. Smith now has seven-straight seasons with 20 wins and nine overall under coach Lynn Hersey. 

Top Performers

•  Nowicki knocked down four three-pointers and grabbed eight rebounds
• Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) was just shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 boards
• Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran) posted eight points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals

By the Numbers

• Smith shot 42.5% (31-of-73) from the field, 31% (9-of-29) from three-point range, and 66.7% (10-of-15) from the free throw line
• Mount Holyoke shot 17.9% (10-of-56) from the floor, 15.8% (3-of-19) from long distance, and 63.6% (7-of-11) from the free throw line
• Smith forced 20 turnovers, received 58 points off the bench, while holding a commanding 55-33 advantage in rebounds

Game Highlights

• Nowicki drained a three with under a minute to go to Smith ahead 18-2 after the first. 
• Another dominant quarter where Smith outscored the Lyons 20-3 allowed them to take a 385 lead into halftime
• The Pioneers outscored the hosts 43-25 in the second half for the 81-30 final

Up Next
Smith hosts MIT on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 2:00pm. Prior to the game, Smith will honor its three senior Ally Landau (Livingston, NJ), Jane Loo (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga), and Jazmyn Washington (Los Angeles, CA/Birmingham Community Charter).

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.'