NORTHAMPTON, MASS - The Smith College basketball team posted a 95-30 victory over Mount Holyoke College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic (NEWMAC) action Wednesday evening at Ainsworth Gymnasium. The Pioneers improve to 9-3 overall and 2-2 in conference, while the Lyons are now 2-8 overall and 0-4 in the NEWMAC.
Sophomore Kennedy Guest-Pritchett (Fairburn, Ga./The Lawrenceville School) registered a game-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in 19 minutes of action. Senior guard Mandy Castro (San Diego, Calif./Poway) played all 40 minutes finishing with 12 points, seven assists and two boards. Katy McClellan (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) had a successful night off the bench as the sophomore guard totaled four points, seven boards and two helpers.
Senior guard Xajaah Williams-Flores (The Bronx, N.Y./Holderness School) led the way for the Lyons with 13 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Leah Hodges (New Haven, Conn./Kolbe Cathedral) had a solid performance off the bench with three points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Genesis DiCarlo (Sullivan, Maine/Sumner Memorial) was perfect on the evening as the junior guard shot 2-for-2 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line to finish with six points.
For the game, Smith shot 55.6 percent (40-of-72) from the field, 40.0 percent (8-of-20) from long distance, and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from the charity stripe. The Pioneers also dominated the glass, 42-16. Mount Holyoke shot 30.6 percent from the field (11-for-36) and 80 percent (8-for-10) from the free throw line.
A three-pointer from Alakai capped a 7-0 start for the Pioneers but the Lyons responded with back-to-back buckets from Williams-Flores. Erin Hanley (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prepatory) sparked the offense as the sophomore guard totaled six points to help the Pioneers end the first quarter with a 25-6 lead.
The home team carried the momentum into the second stanza as its advantage grew to 36 (47-11) courtesy of a Koh trey at the 2:53 mark. A fastbreak layup from Guest-Pritchett gave the Pioneers a 53-16 lead at halftime.
Smith controlled the action in the third quarter by outscoring the Lyons 25-9. The Pioneers ended the game on a high-note as the defense allowed only five points en route to the 95-30 final.
For the game, Smith shot 55.6 percent (40-of-72) from the field, 40.0 percent (8-of-20) from long distance, and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from the charity stripe. The Pioneers also dominated the glass, 42-16. Mount Holyoke shot 30.6 percent from the field (11-for-36) and 80 percent (8-for-10) from the free throw line.
Mount Holyoke will hit the hardwood again on Saturday where it will face Babson on the road at 1:00pm. Smith will take the weekend off before returning to conference play on Tuesday, January 10 when the Pioneers welcome Clark University to Ainsworth for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.
