NORTHAMPTON - Senior guard
Jane Loo (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) scored seven points in the closing minutes of the game as the No. 1 seed Smith College basketball team outlasted No. 8 seed Coast Guard, 70-62, on Wednesday evening in the NEWMAC quarterfinals inside Ainsworth Gymnasium.
This marks the fifth-straight year that the Pioneers will be playing in the conference tournament semifinals. Smith improves to 24-2 on the year, while the Bears season comes to an end with an overall record of 16-10.
Top Performers
- Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) posted a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds
- Jane Loo (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) contributed 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals
- Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) also chipped in a double-double with 10 points, 11 boards, and five assists
By the Numbers
- Smith shot 43.1% from the field (28-of-65), 26.7% (4-of-15) from three-point range, and 83.3% (10-of-12) from the free throw line
- The visitors shot 41.2% (28-of-68) from the field, 13.3% (2-of-15) from long distance, and 80% (4-of-5) from the free throw line
- Smith owned a 41-31 advantage on the boards
Game Highlights
- Smith raced out to an early 6-0 lead, but Coast Guard rallied with five quick points. Dorthy Stotts beat the buzzer with a jumper to come within 18-11 at the end of one.
- Back-to-back three pointers by Martin and Loo late in the second gave Smith its largest lead of the game at 34-21 with 1.55 left to go. The two teams exchanged layups as Smith went into halftime ahead 36-23
- An evenly played third quarter made way for the comeback of the fourth period. Coast Guard chipped any at the lead and Kelly Hegarty tied the game at 54 with 4:31 remaining. Jane Loo (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) came up clutch down the stretch, contributing seven points with under 3:35 left in the game. Smith made 5-of-6 free in the final 40 seconds to clinch the victory.
Up Next
Smith advances to the NEWMAC Semifinals on Friday evening where they will host No. 5 seed Salve Regina at 7:00pm.
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 on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
