SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Nov. 28, 2012) – Powered by double-digit efforts from three different players, the Smith College basketball team posted a 71-50 victory over Mount Holyoke College in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams. The Pioneers move to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Lyons slip to 1-3 and 0-1 in the NEWMAC.
Smith took advantage early, jumping out to a seven-point advantage (12-5 on a three-pointer from senior guard Devon Quattrocchi (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) at 14:34. The Pioneers stretched their lead to 12 points (19-7), but the Lyons fought back making it a four-point game (25-21) with 4:06 to play in the half on back-to-back jumpers from senior guard Angelica Pascual (Lawrence, Mass./Proctor Academy (N.H.).
A free throw make by Quattrocchi at the 3:09 mark made it a five-point margin, but a quick shot from beyond the arc by sophomore guard Kate Karraker (Morgantown, W.V./Taft School (Conn.) made it a 26-24 game with 2:46 left to play.
The two teams went back and forth over the final two minutes but the Pioneers headed into the intermission with a 30-28 advantage. Leading the way for Smith was sophomore guard Paulina Solis (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill), who had eight points. The Lyons were led through the first 20 minutes by Karraker, who poured in 12 points to lead all scorers.
In the second half, the game remained close through the first minute as sophomore forward Amber Legare (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comprehensive) sank a pair of free throws to tie the game at 30-all. The Pioneers began to find their stride soon after, going up by 11 points (43-32) on a pair of shots from the line by Quattrocchi at the 14:13 mark.
Solis nailed a shot from downtown to give the Pioneers a 14-point advantage and the visitors continued to maintain their double-digit effort over the next five minutes. Smith was able to capitalize on costly turnovers by Mount Holyoke, going up by 18 (61-43) on a jumper by junior center Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) with 6:21 remaining in the game.
A layup by senior guard Amanda Zakoske (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School) with two minutes to play gave Smith its largest lead of the contest (23 points; 71-48) and the Pioneers held in the final seconds to seal the win.
For Smith, Solis posted a game-best 17 points, adding three rebounds and a steal. Quattrocchi added 12 points, three rebounds, a game-high four assists and two steals, while Drummond chipped in with 11 points, six boards and a game-best three steals.
Mount Holyoke was paced by Karraker, who had 15 points, an assist, a block and two steals. Junior forward Jennine Vizcaino (New York, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.) added nine points and five rebounds, while Pascual added eight points and two steals. Legare led all players off the glass with 13 rebounds and two blocks.
Mount Holyoke returns to conference action on Saturday when it travels to Babson for a 1pm contest against the Beavers. Smith is also in action on Saturday, hosting Wheaton at 2pm.
Photo courtesy of Frank Poulin.
