THE MATCHUP: Mount Holyoke hosts longtime rival Smith College this evening (7:00) at the Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium. In 60 previous meetings between the NEWMAC foes, the Pioneers own a slight 32-28 advantage. They swept the Lyons last season, winning by scores of 52-36 and 53-35. Game Program

THE LYONS: Mount Holyoke (1-5, 0-2 NEWMAC) has been paced by Angelica Pascual, who has averaged 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game over the first three weeks of the season. The guard was at her best in the opening game of the Seven Sisters Classic, when she exploded for a program record 37 points against Agnes Scott College. Her seven three-pointers in the contest were good for tops in school history. Pascual was named to the All-Classic Team after scoring 15 more points in the Lyons' 54-51 triumph over Vassar College the following day. She was joined on the All-Classic Team by forward Tricia Chase, who has posted 6.8 points and a team best 7.7 rebounds per outing. Mount Holyoke has also received a boost from guard Christine Chancy, who has amassed 6.8 points per game to go with 10 assists and 14 steals. Fellow guard Annabel Barrett has netted 6.7 points per game, while forward Bree Hollinger has pulled down 6.8 boards per contest.

THE PRIDE: Three players have averaged double digits in the scoring column for Smith (3-4, 0-2 NEWMAC), which has had an up-and-down start to its 2010-11 campaign. The Pioneers have downed Framingham State University (59-40), Bryn Mawr College (69-30) and Elms College (85-64). In their most recent outing, they fell 62-49 to nationally ranked Babson College. Center Rosa Drummond has made an immediate impact on the Smith program, collecting team highs of 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game over the first three weeks of her collegiate career. The Pioneers have also received solid production from guards Lizzy BelBruno and Amanda Zakoske, who have delivered 11.0 and 10.9 points per game, respectively. Fellow guard Marissa Munoz-Ruiz have come off the bench to record 7.6 points per game, 24 assists and 18 steals. Meanwhile, guard Devon Quattrochi has added 8.6 points per outing and 23 assists.  

NEXT UP: Both squads will resume their NEWMAC schedules on the road on Thursday. Mount Holyoke will travel to Clark University at 7:00 p.m., while Smith will visit the Coast Guard Academy at 7:30 p.m.