February 14, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

 Mount Holyoke Defeats Smith 54-41

Northampton, MA:  The Lyons of Mount Holyoke secured second place in the NEWMAC regular season standings with their 54-41 defeat of Smith College this evening. The Lyons improved to 18-4 overall and 9-3 in the Conference while the Pioneers fell to 6-16 overall and 1-11 in the NEWMAC. 

            With the game tied at 4 in the opening minutes, Mount Holyoke outscored the home team 18 to 5 over the next eleven minutes to take a comfortable lead into the half as turnovers plagued Smith who committed 15 in the first half. Joeanna Silvey (Boston, MA) led the Lyons in the first twenty minutes scoring 10 of her 13 points.

            The Pioneers fought back in the second half outscoring Mount Holyoke ten to three to bring the score within two at 26-28 and again at 29-31, but it was the closest the home team would get.  Junior Helena Charron (Pittsfield, NH) scored a team high 15 points with four blocked shots for Smith with Rose Baldwin (S. Strafford, VT) adding 11 points.

            Angela Astuccio (Foxboro, MA) finished the game for the Lyons with 15 points with teammates Silvey adding 13 and Jonee Billy (New York, NY) 10.

            The Lyons will face Clark University on Saturday in Worcester while Smith closes out the season at 1 p.m. at MIT.