Balanced Attack Leads Smith Past Wellesley Basketball, 66-43

Northampton, Mass. -- Four players finished in double figures to lead Smith College to a 66-43 victory over Wellesley College basketball in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday afternoon at Ainsworth Gymnasium. 

Smith has won back-to-back games and four of the team's last five to improve to 10-4 overall and 4-3 in the NEWMAC. Wellesley is now 6-7 overall and 3-4 in conference.

Senior Lauren Bondi (Burnaby, BC, Canada) scored 18 points in 35 minutes to lead the Smith attack. Classmate Sydney Koh (Seattle, Wash.) chipped in with 12 points off the bench on 4-for-9 shooting from distance. Seniors Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga.) and Katy McClellan (Palmyra, Pa.) each scored 13 points for the Pioneers, with Guest-Pritchett pulling down a team-high six rebounds. Smith also took advantage of their free throw attempts converting on 12-of-14.

The Blue were led by junior Caitlyn Aguirre (El Paso, Texas), who scored 14 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Alyssa Cho (Hillsborough, Calif.) came off the bench and secured 6 rebounds for the Blue. Junior Kendall You Mak (San Francisco, Calif.) converted on both of their field goal attempts and was 4-4 from the line to finish with 8 points. Classmate Emily Kopp (King Ferry, N.Y.) grabbed a game-high seven rebounds in 32 minutes of action. 

Wellesley trailed 23-8 after the first quarter and were unable to recover from the early setback. Smith opened the game on a 9-0 run before building a 20-point (38-18) edge at halftime. Wellesley responded by putting-up 18 points in the third quarter, as Aguirre scored 8 of her 18, but were unable to contain Smith, who finished with 20 points in the quarter. Guest-Pritchett dropped in four points in a low-scoring fourth quarter to help the Pioneers close out the 66-43 victory.

Wellesley finished the game shooting 33.3% (16-of-48) from the field and from beyond the arc (3-of-9). Smith countered by shooting 46.0% (23-for-50) from the field and 30.8% (8-for-26) from three. The Blue had a 32-28 edge on the glass but Smith had a slim advantage in the paint, outscoring Wellesley 14-10. 

The Blue will look to return to .500 on the year and in NEWMAC play as they travel to MIT on January 16 for an 8:00 PM tip. Smith will take on regionally-ranked Middlebury in non-conference play at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 16.