NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) Women's Basketball team fell to No. 12/16 Smith College in a 69-55 loss this afternoon in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference play at Emerson Gymnasium in Norton, Mass on the campus of Wheaton.
The Lyons drop to 9-9 overall and 1-3 in league play, while the Pioneers, who are ranked in the most recent Women's Basketball Coaches Association and D3hoops.com polls, win their sixth straight game and 11 of their last 12 to improve to 15-2 and 4-0.
Wheaton completed 36.7% (22-60) of their tries from the floor this afternoon, while visiting Smith knocked down 39.1% (25-64). Smith secured a 45-34 rebound margin and only turned the ball over 10 times in the contest. Wheaton was able to hold the Pioneers to just 16.7% (2-12) from three point range.
A pair of Lyons led the charge with first year guard Tatum Young (Forsyth, Ill.) netting a career-high 10 points and adding a rebound to go with a pair of assists, while junior guard Riley Sprague (Jamestown, R.I.) scored 10 points, shooting 4-4 from the field, including 3-3 from behind the three point arc. She also added two rebounds in 10 minutes of play. Sprague's classmate Abby Fernandes (Assonet, Mass.) contributed eight points, four assists, two rebounds, and a pair of steals.
Graduate student forward Sofia Rosa (Sudbury, Mass.) led the Pioneers with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds in addition to a pair of blocks. Senior guard Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif.) also walked away with a double-double with 10 boards and 11 points to go with a pair of assists. First Year guard Hannah Martin (North Andover, Mass.) added to Smith's tallies with 10 points and three rebounds.
Smith never trailed in the game, but Wheaton was within 6-4 after a layup from Young at the 7:55 mark of the first period. The Pioneers then enjoyed a scorching 18-5 stretch over the next 6:04 to take a 24-9 advantage with 59 seconds left in the quarter. The opening run was brought to an end by a turnaround jumper by sophomore forward Nasha Arnold (North Reading, Mass.), cutting Smith's lead to 13 with 32 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Lyons were able to cut the deficit to nine following a triple from first year guard Aniyah Boston (Linden, N.J.) to cap an 8-4 run by Wheaton with 6:19 remaining in the half. Smith responded with a 9-2 burst to close out the half and increase their lead to 16 (37-21) at the intermission.
The Pioneers increased their lead to 24 with two free throws from Ruffner with 2:34 showing on the clock in the third quarter, but a Fernandes matched a pair of free throws and Sprague knocked down a set of triples for the Lyons that cut Smith's lead to 16 with 52 seconds of play left in the third stanza.
Wheaton junior forward Mireille Tona (Portland, Maine) and Young combined for 11 points in 3:25 of action and Sprague converted a layup with 62 seconds left for the last points of the afternoon to pull the home team within 69-55.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday January 24 at 7:00 p.m. in NEWMAC competition. The Pioneers host Springfield College, while Wheaton travels to Worcester, Mass. to challenge Clark University.
