November 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Smith Basketball Defeats Elms 46-43

Northampton, MA: The Pioneers won their first game of the 2007-08 season this evening in a come-from-behind 46-43 victory over the Blazers of Elms College. Both teams now have a 1-2 overall record.

Smith's Laura Miller (Minneapolis, MN) scored five of the team's first seven points as the Pioneers took an early 7-0 lead in the opening minutes. Elms slowly chipped away at Smith's lead and tied the game at 17. The Blazers took a 25-19 halftime lead behind the shooting of Paige Schneider (Windsor, CT) and Jenn Payton (Stratford, CT) who combined for 18 points.

Elms Amanda Brogna (Oxford, CT) increased Elms lead by two more in the second half before the Pioneers tied it up at 29 on shots by Miller, Anna Veltri (W. Milford, NJ), Merdith Murelli (Litchfield, CT) and Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, NJ). The score seesawed and was tied again at 33 before Smith outscored Elms 8 to 3 to take a five point lead. The Pioneers maintained that edge until Payton brought the Blazers within three with 1:44 remaining but missed shots by both teams ended the game with Smith taking the victory.

Vuono led the Pioneers with 10 points while Miller had a game high 9 rebounds for Smith.  Payton tallied a game high 18 points in the loss for Elms.