January 17, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

 Mount Holyoke Basketball Defeats Smith 64-44

 Northampton, MA: The Pioneers took an early lead in the opening minutes of play but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Lyons as Mount Holyoke defeated Smith 64-44 this evening in Ainsworth Gym. With the win, Mount Holyoke improved to 11-5 overall and 4-1 in NEWMAC competition while Smith fell to 1-14 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

             The Pioneers took a 9-5 lead in the opening five minutes of play but the Lyons responded with a 18 point run that put them ahead for the remainder of the game.  Mount Holyoke’s Marissa Barone (Ludlow, MA) scored 13 of her game high 17 points in the first half to give her team a 37-27 advantage at the half.

             The Lyons extended their lead in the second half behind the shooting of first year Michelle Kowalski (Springfield, MA) who scored her game total of eight points while blocking two shots. Captains Angela Astuccio (Foxboro, MA) and Joeanna Silvey(Boston, MA) each added ten points in the Lyons victory.

             Sophomore Rosie Baldwin (South Strafford, VT) had a team high 12 points for Smith with Berit Schelde (Holstebro, Denmark) adding ten.  First year Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, NJ) had a game high ten rebounds in the loss for Smith.

             Both teams will face NEWMAC opponents on Saturday when Smith travels to Worcester to play WPI at 1 p.m. and Mount Holyoke hosts Coast Guard at 2 p.m.