December 11, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Lady Jeffs Defeat Smith 58-47

Northampton, MA:  Although the Pioneers had three players in double figures, they fell to valley rival AmherstCollege 58-47 tonight in Northampton. With the victory, the Lady Jeffs improved to 6-3 while Smith fell to 1-8.

 Smith built a six-point lead (14-8) in the opening six minutes of play behind the three-point shooting of sophomore Sarah Posnak (Coral Gables, FL) who went 3-for-3. Amherst scored the next six points to tie it up at 14 and again at 17 and 23 before Samantha Swensen (Rockaway Park, NY) gave the Jeffs the lead for good with 36 seconds left in the half (25-23).

            The Jeffs defense stepped it up in the second half holding Smith to just 10 points in 12 minutes while opening up their lead to 49-33.  Junior Stefanie Reiff (Hinsdale, IL) scored a game high 16 points and pulled down a team high 9 rebounds while Swensen
added 15 points in the win.

             First year Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, NJ ) led the Smith scorers with 13 points while Berit Schelde (Holstebro, Denmark) and Helena Charron (Pittsfield, NH) added 12 and 11 respectively. Sophomore Courtney Parker (Berlin, MD) had a team high 8 rebounds in the loss. 

             The Pioneers finish out first semester competition on Thursday when they travel to Westfield State for a 7 p.m. contest.

                                                                    1         2          F
Amherst (6-3)                                                25        33        58
Smith (1-8)                                                    23        24        47