Basketball Rallies Past Smith, 53-45
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Jan. 29, 2009) – Paced by junior guard Erin Cain, the Mount Holyoke College women’s basketball team earned a thrilling 53-45 triumph over New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival Smith College this evening at the Mildred Howard Gymnasium. The Lyons trailed 45-44 with 2:09 remaining in regulation but rallied for the final nine points of the game to secure their second straight win over the Pioneers. It was their third victory in a row and fourth in their last five outings.
Three players reached double digits for Mount Holyoke, which shot 32.7% (18-55) from the field. Cain overcame foul trouble to score a team best 16 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the floor. The guard knocked down four shots from beyond the arc and also tallied seven rebounds and three assists. First years Tricia Chase, Emma Washauer and Christine Chancy each made solid contributions for the hosts. Chase and Washauer netted ten points apiece. Meanwhile, Chancy chipped in with nine points, nine boards, five steals and four assists.
Smith was paced by junior guard Berit Schelde, who racked up a game high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field. The Pioneers also received a boost from classmate Lisa Marie Vuono, who finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Senior forward Courtney Parker contributed nine boards off the bench for the guests, who enjoyed a 45-40 edge on the glass. For the game, they made 30.6% (19-62) of their attempts from the floor.
Neither team led by more than eight points in a contest that featured seven ties and 13 lead changes.
With the game knotted up at 20-20, Smith exploded for a 9-2 run over the final two minutes of the opening frame to open up a 29-22 halftime advantage. Schelde got the run going with a conventional three point play. She led all scorers with 12 points at the break. Cain and junior center Kate Shafir had six apiece for Mount Holyoke.
The Lyons scored the first nine points of the second stanza to gain a 31-29 edge at the 13:44 mark. Cain and Washauer converted two jumpers apiece during the span. At the other end of the floor, Smith missed nine consecutive shots.
From there, the game was nip and tuck. Over the next 11 minutes, the lead changed six times, with neither team going in front by more than three points. Over that time period, there were four ties.
A Schelde bucket at the 2:09 mark gave the Pioneers at 45-44 edge. From there, it was all Mount Holyoke. The Lyons scored the final nine points of the contest to seal things. A pair of free throws by Cain with 1:31remaining in regulation put the hosts in front 46-45.
Smith had a chance to regain the lead in the final minute, but Chancy came up with a steal and converted a conventional three point play at the other end to push the margin to 49-45. On the Pioneers ensuing possession, she came up with another steal and knocked down a pair of free throws after being fouled. Chase finished off a fast break with a layup in the waning seconds to put the finishing touches on the Lyons third straight triumph.
Both squads will take on NEWMAC foes on Saturday. Mount Holyoke (6-12, 3-3 NEWMAC) will visit WPI at 3:00 p.m., while Smith (8-9, 2-5 NEWMAC) will entertain Clark University at 2:00 p.m.