January 7, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

 Babson Defeats Smith in NEWMAC Action

Northampton, MA:  The Beavers of Babson handed the Pioneers their second conference loss of the season this afternoon defeating the home team 62-53.

            The teams exchanged the lead five times in the first half before Babson scored ten straight to take a 23-14 advantage behind the shooting of Caitlin Boulier (Wolcott, CT), Rebecca Berg (W. Brookfield, CT) and Linsey Poulson (Leominster, MA). Boulier tallied a three-pointer while Smith’s Shelley Harrison (Reston, VA) scored the Pioneers’ next five points to bring Smith within seven at 19-26. Caitlin Fenn (Niantic, CT) converted two free throws to give the Beavers a nine point edge but Sarah Posnak (Coral Gables, FL) answered with a three –pointer to bring the home team within six. April Suprey (Quincy, MA) made a jumper to bring Babson’s total to 30 but Smith wouldn’t give up and closed the gap to two points behind three point shots by Nati Lenchner (Azor, ISRAEL) and Jennifer Daley (Lee, MA). With 20 seconds left in the half, Lenchner tied the game at 30 but with one second left, Suprey scored off an inbounds play to give the Beavers a 32-30 halftime advantage. 

            The second half was much like the first with Babson pulling ahead and Smith closing the gap. The Beavers had a four point lead with two minutes remaining in the game but outscored the Pioneers 7-3 in the final minutes to take the victory.

            Harrison played an outstanding game for the Pioneers scoring a game high 15 points with 10 rebounds while blocking five shots and making three steals. Lenchner and Posnak also scored in double figures for Smith with 14 and 12 respectively.

            Boulier was the leading scoring for Babson with 13 with teammates Poulson and Suzy Ward (N. Attleboro, MA) adding 12 and 11.

            With the victory, Babson improves to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in NEWMAC play while Smith falls to 4-7 and 0-2 in conference action.