NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Holding a one-point lead, top seeded and No. 9/9 Smith College used a 9-0 run to pull away late in the fourth quarter before going on to defeat No. 6 seed MIT, 79-66, in the NEWMAC Women's Basketball Championship on Sunday afternoon in Ainsworth Gym. Senior
Elise Harvey tallied 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal for the Engineers.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 9/9 Smith 79, MIT 66
- Records: MIT (13-15 Overall); Smith (26-2 Overall)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- MIT scored the first six points of the game and went up 13-5 on a three pointer by sophomore April Chan (Fremont, Calif.) with 2:15 left. Smith ended its scoring drought with a layup with 19 seconds remaining but a free throw by junior Alice Hall (Ambler, Pa.) increased the lead to 14-7 at the end of the period.
- The Engineers' advantage grew to 19-9 following a trey by senior Sarah Berman (York, Pa.) at 7:42 mark of the second quarter, however, the Pioneers replied with three consecutive layups. MIT maintained a small cushion, but two layups brought Smith within 26-25 at halftime.
- The third quarter was closely played as a layup by senior Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) tied the game at 32 with 6:04 on the clock. However, a jumper by the Pioneers sparked a 15-5 run as they went on to build a 51-42 advantage at the end of the frame.
- A three point by Harvey kicked off a 14-4 run that put the Engineers in front, 56-55, at the 5:34 mark of the fourth quarter.
- Smith responded with back-to-back layups, but Berman buried a trey, evening the score at 59 with 3:54 to go.
- The Pioneers capitalized on a three-point play during their next possession, however, a layup by Hall narrowed the gap to 62-61 with 3:18 remaining.
- Smith drained a layup on its next trip down the court, setting off a string of nine consecutive points that reestablished its double-digit lead with 55 seconds remaining.
- Despite a basket by Hall and a three from Berman, the Pioneers went 8-for-8 from the free throw line, resulting in the 79-66 final.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Berman generated 14 points and three assists while Nwogu finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.
- Chan and Hall both had nine points as Hall grabbed five rebounds.
- The Engineers made their fourth appearance in the title game and their first since 2020.
- MIT won the conference crown in 2018 and 2019 but fell to Smith the following year.
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