November 19, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Basketball Falls 68-58 to Westfield State

Northampton, MA: In their second game of the 2008-09 season, the Pioneers fell 68-58 to Westfield State last night in Westfield to bring their overall record to 1-1 while the Owls improved to 2-0.

The Owls took an early lead in the first ten minutes of play outscoring the visitors 25-9. Smith then put together a 10-2 run over the next three minutes on baskets by Megan Kiefer (Oak Park, IL), Meredith Murelli (Litchfield, CT), Jessica Welk (Arlington, WA) and Valerie Driscoll (Keene, NH) to bring the Pioneers within eight points (27-19).  The Pioneers outscored Westfield 7-4 in the remaining minutes to go into the half down five (31-26).

Veltri, Welk and Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, NJ) tallied for Smith in the opening three minutes of play to bring the Pioneers within two (35-33) but Westfield went on a 20-2 run over the next six minutes to put the game away.

Andrea Wasuk (Lenox, MA) tallied a game high 23 points, including her 1,000th career point, for Westfield. Katie Sylvain (Hadley, MA) registered a double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while her sister Lauren added 11 points for the Owls. Welk scored 15 in the loss for Smith while Vuono added 11 with six rebounds.

The Pioneers travel to Vassar College this weekend for the Seven Sisters Classic.  Smith will face Agnes Scott on Saturday at 2 pm and then play Bryn Mawr on Sunday at noon.