NORTHAMPTON - The No. 6 Smith basketball team delivered a dominant performance on Wednesday night, rolling to a 88-38 NEWMAC victory over Wellesley College. Smith outscored the Blue 42-10 in the paint and outrebounded the visitors 45-23.



The opening quarter commenced with Ava Shane of Wellesley scoring a jumper in the paint, giving the visitors an early lead before Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park) responded with a three-pointer, assisted by Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett). The Bears' defense contributed to their scoring momentum, including a fast-break layup by Fongemie. Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) and Maher each added three-pointers, extending Smith's lead. Maggie Fleming (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove) capped the quarter with two successful free throws, leading Smith to a 19-4 advantage at the end of the first.

The Bears widened the gap significantly in the second quarter, highlighted by an impressive shooting performance from Johnson, who hit three consecutive three-pointers, including one at the 4:45 mark. Mya Williams (Temple City, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial) contributed with a key layup and a free throw, while Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) added two assists, supporting Smith's offensive momentum. The Blue struggled to keep pace, with Proud Techarungchaikul providing a brief spark with a three-pointer, but the Bears' strong defense forced four turnovers. The quarter closed with Jillian Nowicki (San Diego, CA/Our Lady of Peace) sinking a three-pointer, securing a 45-15 advantage for Smith at halftime.

Smith maintained their advantage in the third quarter, fueled by efficient shooting. Sylvester contributed a layup at 9:49, assisted by Fongemie, to kick off Smith's scoring. Midway through the quarter, Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran) extended Smith's lead with a three-pointer at 2:57, following an assist from Fongemie. The Bears' defense held firm, limiting Wellesley's opportunities and securing defensive rebounds, with Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) and Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) playing key roles. The quarter concluded with Smith leading 70-31, highlighted by Kate Hackney's (Thousand Oaks, CA/Bishop Alemany) layup with 24 seconds remaining.

Smith outpaced the Blue with a dominant performance in the fourth quarter, securing an 88-38 victory. Maggie Fleming (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove) scored just three seconds into the quarter with a layup assisted by Williams. The Bears' defensive intensity was evident, forcing multiple turnovers and converting them into fast-break points, including a layup by Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran) at 7:30 and Jillian Nowicki's (San Diego, CA/Our Lady of Peace) fast-break layup at 2:01. Bre'Aria Cannon (Christiana, TN/Link Academy) contributed with two layups, while Alina Abdulina (Moscow, Russia/Hoosac School) and Samara Ashooh (Shelburne, VT/Champlain Valley Union) each added a basket in the paint. The Blue's Ava Shane managed to connect on a three-pointer and a jumper, but Smith's relentless offense sealed the win.

Smith Top Performers  
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest)  
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- 15 points  
- 5 3-pointers  
- 5 rebounds  

Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park)  
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- 12 points  
- 4 3-pointers  
- 3 rebounds  

Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep)  
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- 12 points  
- 4 assists  
- 2 steals  

Bre'Aria Cannon (Christiana, TN/Link Academy)  
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- 7 rebounds  
- 2 steals  

Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover)  
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- 5 assists  
- 4 rebounds  
- 1 steal  



Up Next
Smith faces rival Springfield College on Saturday, January 31 at 2:00pm inside Ainsworth Gymnasium. 

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.