Slow Start Dooms Blue Basketball in Loss at Smith

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- A slow first half doomed the Wellesley College basketball team as the Blue dropped a 60-52 road contest at the hands of NEWMAC-rival Smith College on Wednesday evening. The Pioneers improve to 6-5 overall, with a 3-2 conference mark, while the Blue move to 7-4 overall, suffering their first NEWMAC loss of the year (4-1). 

Smith limited Wellesley to just seven first half field goals, and held the Blue without a basket for the final 3:52 of the first half to take a commanding 33-19 lead into halftime. 

Wellesley moved within 11 on Malia Maier's three 57 seconds into the second half, but Smith kept the Blue at bay, going up by as many as 16 on Jessica Welk's jumper at the 7:31 mark.  

The Blue then staged a late comeback, scoring seven straight points, the final of which were a conventional three point play from Becca Kimball that trimmed the deficit to 48-39 with 5:11 to play.  Leslie Leong then knocked down a three as Wellesley moved to within eight with 2:43 left in the game.  

The first half advantage proved to be too much for Wellesley to overcome, however, as Smith's Marissa Munoz-Ruiz and Lizzy BelBruno knocked down three of four free throws in the final 1:03 to keep the Pioneers's lead at a healthy 12 points before Leong's two baskets set the final margin.

Rosa Drummond poured in 18 points and pulled down a career high 14 rebounds for her second double-double this season for Smith.  Also for the Pioneers, BelBruno tossed 13, sinking five of seven from the charity stripe.  

Wellesley was led by Ashleigh Sargent and Leong, who recorded 15 points and six rebounds apiece. Maier finished the night with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals. 

Smith will next play host to MIT on Saturday at 2 p.m.  Wellesley will host Springfield College, also at 2 p.m. on Saturday.