THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Smith College 77, MIT 69
 
- Records: MIT (4-7, 0-1 NEWMAC); Smith (10-1, 1-0 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: Smith College put together a 17-4 run late in the third quarter and held off MIT's comeback attempt to record a 77-69 victory in NEWMAC women's basketball action. Both squads had four players reach double digits in scoring as senior Christina Antonakakis (Holmdel, N.J.) and Jessie Ruffner both finished with 22 points for the Engineers and Pioneers, respectively.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- The opening quarter was a back-and-forth affair as there were six ties and six lead changes. Two free throws by Ally Yamada with seconds left gave Smith a 26-24 edge.
 
- MIT opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run as a three-pointer by Antonakakis gave the hosts a 34-28 lead midway through the frame. The Pioneers replied with an 8-2 burst as Ruffner's layup tied the game at 36 with 1:33 on the clock. Two free throws from Antonakakis coupled with a trey by first-year Sarah Berman (York, Pa.) gave the Engineers some breathing room. However, Ruffner drained a layup with eight seconds to go, making the score 41-38 at halftime.
 
- MIT maintained its small cushion as a put-back from senior Kylie Gallagher (Upton, Mass.) resulted in a 49-44 lead at the 4:54 mark of the third quarter. After an exchange of possessions, back-to-back buckets by Ruffner ignited Smith's game-changing 17-4 run. Ruffner accounted for eight points, including the first six, in helping the Pioneers build a 61-53 advantage heading into the final frame.
 
- The Engineers chipped away at the deficit as two free throws from Antonakakis narrowed the gap to 69-66 with 2:20 remaining in regulation. Smith replied with baskets by Yamada and Morgan Morrison during the next minute and then Dashelle Gleissner sank a free throw with 57 seconds left. MIT countered with a three-pointer by Antonakakis moments later, however, the Pioneers went 3-of-4 at the charity stripe to secure the victory.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Gallagher produced 14 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals while first-year Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) and Berman both posted 10 points. Antonakakis also chipped in four assists and two steals.
 
- Morrison finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds as Amelia Clairmont notched 11 points and three steals. Yamada contributed 10 points while Elle Jo Whalen grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Gleissner tacked on five assists and two blocks.
 
- Smith led the way in rebounds (44-33), points in the paint (56-20), points off turnovers (22-9), second-chance points (21-11), and bench scoring (26-17).
 
- The Engineers shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the floor, 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from three-point range, and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the free throw line.
 
- The Pioneers shot 43.1 percent (31-of-72) from the floor, 7.7 percent (1-of-13) from behind the arc, and 58.3 percent (14-of-24) at the charity stripe.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Wednesday, Jan. 19. MIT will travel to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for a 5:30 p.m. tip off while Smith will host WPI at 7:00 p.m.
 
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