#5 Smith (25-1) vs Springfield (16-10)
Game 27 | NEWMAC Tournament Semifinals
Friday, February 27 - 7:00pm
Ainsworth Gymnasium | Northampton, MA
GameDay Quick Facts
Television: The game will be live streamed on
FloCollege
Live Stats | Tickets for tonight's event are sold out
Notables
- CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: Smith captured its fifth-consecutive regular season championship with an undefeated 11-0 record
- RANKING: Smith enters the postseason ranked No. 5 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll, No. 7 in the D3hoops.com Top 25, and No. 1 in the region
- HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Bears are 15-0 inside Ainsworth Gymnasium this season
- CHASING HISTORY: Smith is going for a NEWMAC record sixth-straight NEWMAC Championship
- PRIMED FOR PLAYOFFS: Smith has won its last 14 NEWMAC Tournament contests dating back to 2019, a 48-46 setback to Springfield
Scouting the Bears
- The Smith offense leads the NEWMAC in scoring (74.6ppg), defense (49.6ppg), while outscoring opponents by 25.0 points per game
- The Bears also rank first in field goal percentage (.472), field goal percentage defense (.323), three-point percentage (.408 - 1st in NCAA), three-point defense (.251), free throw percentage (.749) and rebound margin (+10.7/game)
- Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) leads the Bears, averaging 12.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4 assists per game. She shoots 48.8 percent from the field, including 44.6% from long distance
- Preseason All-American point guard Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) is averaging 10.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game
- Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) is third on the team at 9.7 points per game
- Head coach Lynn Hersey won her 350th game at Smith on January 31 against Springfield and is 22-8 all-time in the NEWMAC Tournament
Scouting the Opponent
- The Bears are 24-36 all-time against the Pride and have won the last four meetings.
- The two teams last met in the NEWMAC Semifinals in 2023 with Smith winning 61-49
- In the regular season meeting on January 31, Smith outscore the Pride 31-18 in the second half en route to a 66-47 victory. Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) posted a career-high 20 points and added nine rebounds
- The Pride rank sixth in the NEWMAC in scoring offense with 62.3 points per game, while ranking third in scoring defense at 54.2 points per game.
- Natalie Lucas leads three players in double-figures at 12.3 points per game to go along with 5.8 boards
- Amanda Leary chips in 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds, while Carrie Hess averages 11.0 points, and 4.4 rebounds
2026 NEWMAC Women's Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals: Wednesday, February 25 (at highest seeds)
No. 8 Emerson 59, No. 1 Smith 80 – Final
No. 7 Coast Guard 68, No. 2 Babson 92 – Final
No. 6 WPI 53, No. 3 Clark 65 – Final
No. 5 Springfield 64, No. 4 MIT 50 - Final
Semifinals: Friday, February 27 (at highest remaining seed)
No. 5 Springfield vs. No. 1 Smith – 7:00 P.M.
No. 3 Clark vs. No. 2 Babson – 5:00 P.M.
Championship: Sunday, March 1 (at highest remaining seed)
Semifinal Winners – TBD
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 GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram.
