Box Score NORTHAMPTON - Ally Landau's (Livingston, NJ) layup at the buzzer lifted No. 8 Smith to a 52-50 victory over Amherst College in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament Saturday night in Ainsworth Gymnasium.

The Sweet 16 appearance will be the fourth in program history for the Pioneers overall as they improve to 28-2 on the year and a perfect 10-0 at home in NCAA games. Smith will face Bowdoin College in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, a match up of last season's Sectional Final. Sites and game times will be announced on Sunday. Amherst finishes their season with a record of 20-8. 



Top Performers

• Landau recorded a double-double, posting 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two steals
• Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) chipped in 10 points and four boards
• Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) came off the bench to finish with nine points, shooting 3-of-7 from long distance
• Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) and Jane Loo (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) each added eight points
• Amherst was led by 11 points from Kori Barach

By the Numbers

• Smith finished at 41.2% shooting from the field, 44.4% from three-point range, and 40% from the free throw line
• The Mammoths went 19-of-50 from the floor, 31.6% from long distance, and 60% from the free throw line
• Amherst held a 30-26 edge in rebounds

Game Highlights

• Trailing by nine points with under seven minutes to go, Annie McCarthy drilled a 3 to spur a 7-0 Mammoths run, which included a Laura Mendell layup and two more McCarthy points. Smith still led 46-44 as time ticked under four minutes. Landau made a layup at the 3:10 mark to snap a 6-minute Pioneers scoring drought. The score stayed put at 48-44 until the final minute.
• Mendell split a pair at the line, making it a one-possession game again. A Smith turnover was the result of its next trip down, setting up Amherst with a chance to tie. The visitors missed an open look from three but grabbed the offensive rebound and banked home a layup to trail 48-47. 
• Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) was fouled and calmly knocked down two clutch free throws to bring Smith's lead back up to three. Pahl sank the three to setup the game-winner for Landau. 

Up Next

• Smith will face Bowdoin next Friday evening in the third round. The Sectional site and game time will be announced on Sunday. 
• The Polar Bears (29-0) will be playing in their 17th Sweet Sixteen all-time
• The other two teams in the sectional will be McMurry (21-5) and Gustavus Adolphus (26-1)

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.