Smith Tops Wellesley Basketball in NEWMAC Match-up, 65-48

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Senior Emily Kopp (King Ferry, N.Y.) scored a game-high 17 points but Wellesley College basketball dropped a 65-48 final to Smith College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday afternoon at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

Smith improves to 16-2 on the season, 2-1 NEWMAC, while the Blue now sit 10-4 overall and 2-1 NEWMAC.  

First year Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H.) finished with 16 total points and four rebounds for the Pioneers, while classmate Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif.) chipped in 12 points and five boards. Sophomore Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass.) pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds while also contributing nine points and two assists. 

Kopp finished 7-of-11 from the floor, adding six rebounds in 30 minutes. First year Pujita Shukla (Austin, Texas), added eight points and four rebounds. Junior Alyssa Cho (Hillsborough, Calif.) also contributed six points and five rebounds on the game. 

After a slow start, the Pioneers broke out to a 19-12 lead at the end of the first, with Clairmont scoring eight of her 16 total points in the opening ten minutes. The Blue came out strong in the second, scoring 10 points to Smith's three, to tie the score at 22-22 with 3:16 remaining before the half. Smith went on to outscore the Blue 6-4, regaining their lead at 28-26 heading to the break.  

Smith continued to add to their advantage in the third, outscoring the Blue, 23-9, to make the score 51-35 at the start of the fourth. Wellesley rallied back in the fourth, scoring seven straight points to cut the Pioneer's lead to 53-42 at 7:10. However, Smith countered with a 10-1 run to extend the lead to 20, at 63-43, with 3:10 left in regulation. The Pioneers would go on to seal the game, 65-48.  

Smith finished the game 11-of-13 from the line (84.6%) and 24-of-49 from the floor (49.0%) with a 36-24 edge in rebounds. The Blue went 17-of-55 from the floor (32.7%) and 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the line. 

Both teams return to NEWMAC action on Wednesday, January 29, Wellesley will host WPI at 7:00PM and Smith will travel to Wheaton for a 6:00PM start.