BRUNSWICK, Maine – In a battle between two of the top teams in the region, Smith College delivered a statement win, upsetting previously unbeaten and No. 1 tournament seed Bowdoin, 53-47, on Friday night at Morrell Gymnasium. Smith advances to the Elite Eight tomorrow evening against #5 Gustavus Adolphus. 

The Pioneers handed the Polar Bears their first loss of the season with a gritty, composed performance, proving they are a force to be reckoned.  After a sluggish start, Smith took control in the second half, using a dominant third quarter to flip a two-point halftime deficit into an eight-point lead heading into the final frame.


Bowdoin, the top seed in the tournament, made a late push and cut the Smith lead to just six with under three minutes to play, but the Pioneers never wavered. Clutch free throws and a relentless defensive effort in the closing moments sealed the upset, knocking off the nationally top-ranked team on their home floor.

KEY PERFORMERS:
    •    Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) led the way with 16 points, hitting all six of her free throws and making crucial plays in the fourth quarter.
    •    Jane Loo (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) added 12 points and six rebounds, attacking the rim and making timely baskets.
    •    Jazmyn Washington (Los Angeles, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) was a force on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds and playing a key role in slowing down Bowdoin's offense.
    •    Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) provided a spark with eight points, including two three-pointers that helped Smith pull ahead in the third quarter.

TURNING POINT:
Trailing 22-20 at halftime, Smith came out of the locker room with a renewed sense of urgency. Martin fueled an early scoring run, while Washington and Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) controlled the paint, limiting second-chance opportunities for Bowdoin. The Pioneers' defensive pressure forced the top-seeded Polar Bears into difficult shots, holding them to just 32% from the field.
A late surge from Bowdoin made things interesting, but Smith's ability to hit free throws (12-for-15) and control the tempo in the final minutes proved to be the difference.

BY THE NUMBERS:
    •    Smith outrebounded Bowdoin 44-33, including an 11-7 advantage on the offensive glass.
    •    The Pioneers held Bowdoin to just one free throw attempt all game, while converting 80% (12-15) of their own.
    •    Smith's defense held Bowdoin to just eight points in the third quarter, the Polar Bears' lowest-scoring quarter of the season.

UP NEXT:
The Pioneers have now won 10 straight games and will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for the the next round tomorrow evening at 7:30 pm against #5 Gustavus Adolphus. Use this link top buy tickets for tomorrow night's game. 

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.