December 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Basketball Falls to Simmons In OT

Northampton, MA: Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, NJ) and Berit Schelde (Holstebro, Denmark) combined for 44 of Smith's 63 points today in the Pioneer's 70-63 overtime loss at Simmons College this afternoon. With the victory, Simmons improved to 5-1 while Smith fell to 5-3.

In the opening minutes of the first half, Schelde scored two consecutive baskets to tie the game at four, but Simmons built its lead to 14-8. Over the next five minutes, baskets by Vuono and Anna Veltri (West Milford, CT) tied the game again at 14. Simmons ran off 12 points over the next eight minutes and held Smith scoreless until Sarah Posnak (Miami, FL) converted a three-pointer at the 3:16 mark to bring the Pioneers within nine (26-17). Baskets by Vuono, Megan Kiefer (Oak Park, IL) and Schelde brought Smith within seven at the half (32-25).

Smith opened the second half outscoring Simmons 8-0 to take its first lead of the game (33-32).  The lead exchanged hands eight times over the remainder of the half until 3:12 remained in regulation with the score 56-56. Schelde sank a three-pointer to put Smith up 59-56 but Pioneer fouls turned into four consecutive made free-throws for Simmons to give the home team a 60-59 lead.  Schelde converted two free throws with 51 seconds remaining to give Smith a 61-60 advantage but she was then called for a foul with one second left in regulation. Simmons converted one of two free throws to force overtime.

Simmons went on a 9-2 run in overtime to take the victory.  Vuono had a game high 23 points with 7 rebounds while Schelde added 21 points. Julianna Eagles had a team high 19 points for Simmons while Lauren Krecie added 16 and Stephanie Fox and Sarah Clayton tallied 14 each.

In their last game of the first semester, the Pioneers will host Trinity College on Monday, December 8 at 7 pm in Ainsworth Gym.