For Immediate Release
February 23, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
Courtesy Smith Sports Information
Wellesley Basketball Falls to Smith College
Box Score
Northampton, MA -- In the final game of the regular season, the Smith Pioneers came back from a 15-point first half deficit to defeat New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival Wellesley College 46-41 this afternoon in Northampton. Smith ended its season 5-18 overall and 3-10 in the conference while Wellesley fell to 7-16 overall and 4-9 in the NEWMAC.
Sophomore Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, NJ) scored off the opening tip to give Smith a 2-0 lead but over the next nine minutes, the Blue of Wellesley put together a 17-2 run as the Pioneers missed ten shot attempts.
The Pioneers then outscored Wellesley 10-0 on baskets by Laura Miller (Minneapolis, MN), Vuono, and Ashley Sutton (Greenfield, MA) to close within three, 14-17. Wellesley responded with two free throws and a basket by junior Julia Thomas (Concord, CA) to build the Blue's lead back to seven. Anna Veltri (West Milford, NJ) and Talia Williams (Montpelier, VT) combined for five points for the Pioneers and brought the team within two with 3:16 left.
Junior Jessica Duff (Milton, Abington, UK) converted two free throws for Wellesley that increased the lead to four, but the Pioneers tallied the last five points of the half on a trey from Williams and a hoop by Miller that gave Smith a 24-23 lead.
Jen Daley (Lee, MA) opened the second half with a basket for Smith but Courtney Richter (Sinking Spring, PA) hit a three-pointer to even the score at 26. Duff then sank a free throw for the Blue to go up one but Miller answered with a hoop to give the lead back to Smith.
The Pioneers built a small lead over the next few minutes but the Blue once again tied the game up at 34 with just under seven minutes remaining. After five lead exchanges over the next five minutes, the game was knotted at 41 with 2:48 left. The Pioneers outscored Wellesley 5-0 in the remaining minutes on baskets by Miller and a free throw by Vuono to claim the victory.
Miller tallied a double double for Smith with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Sutton added 9 points and Williams 6 rebounds.
Duff led Wellesley with 10 points and 15 rebounds, Richter added 10 points and Thomas 10 rebounds in the loss for Wellesley.
Wellesley has earned the sixth seed in the upcoming NEWMAC Championship Tournament. The Blue will open with a road game on Wednesday, February 27th against Springfield at 7:00pm.