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

  Harrison Sets School Record in Smith’s 63-43 Loss to Springfield

Northampton, MA: Senior Shelley Harrison (Reston, VA) set a new Smith mark today as she blocked five shots to bring her season total thus far to 79. With today’s performance, she broke the record of 77 that was set by Melissa Babyak (Easthampton, MA) during the 1989-90 season and which Harrison tied during the 2003-04 season. This season she also has broken the record held by Babyak for blocks in a career.

             The Pioneers got off to a great start today outscoring Springfield 10-6 in the first ten minutes of action, but the Pride responded by scoring the next eleven points of the game to take a 17-10 lead. Ashley Sutton (Greenfield, MA) brought Smith to within four on a three-pointer but Christine Cotter (Stoughton, MA) converted two free throws for Springfield to give the Pride a 6-point edge. Smith’s Helena Charron (Pittsfield, NH) scored two for Smith and was matched by the Prides’ Katie Castignetti (Braintree, MA) to bring the score to 21-15. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Smith outscored the Pride 11-4 on 3 baskets by Charron, one by Lakeisha Richardson (Oakland, CA) and the three-pointer by Nati Lenchner (Azor, Israel) to take a 26-25 lead into the half. 

             The second half was all Springfield’s as they outscored the home team 19-3 in the first 10 minutes, a deficit that Smith couldn’t overcome. Senior co-captain Erin Schwartz (Milford, CT) led the way for the Pride as she scored a dozen of her game high 20 points and pulled down 6 of her game high 12 rebounds.  First year Lauren O’Connor (Valhalla, NY) also posted a double double for the Pride finishing the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Castignetti and Cotter both scored in double figures for Springfield with 12 and 10 points respectively.

             The Pride remain unbeaten in NEWMAC competition and improve to 18-5 overall and 11-0 in the conference while Smith falls to 6-15 overall and 1-10 in NEWMAC play.