Trinity Women's Basketball's Historic Season Comes To An End At Smith

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HARTFORD, Conn. - The visiting Trinity College Bantams fell victim to a cold shooting night in a 63-46 loss against the Smith College Pioneers in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament this evening at Ainsworth Gymnasium.  The No. 20-ranked Bantams' season finishes up with a program record 25 wins and just six losses and the team's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Quarters.  Trinity junior center Reilly Campbell (Wallingford, Conn.) had 12 points and junior guard Emma Wax (Pine Brook, N.J.) scored 10 points, while Ally Yamada came off the bench to score 21 of her game-high 23 points in the first half.  Smith will head down to Hartford for the NCAA Semifinals on Saturday, March 18 at Trinity's Oosting Gymnasium.  The Pioneers, ranked No. 4 nationally, improve to 30-1.

"I couldn't be more proud of our team this season. We made history," said Trinity Head Coach Emily Garner.  "Smith did a great job executing.  We have alot of respect for them.  We made adjustments on defense after they shot well in the first half but we just didn't have the shots fall tonight. Sometimes that's the way it goes."

Trinity started solid thanks to a pair of early jumpers by Wax and a three-pointer by senior forward Frankie Silva (Auburndale, Mass.) made the score, 9-3, with four minutes left in the opening quarter.  Smith went on a 10-2 run to take a 13-11 lead on a three-pointer by Amelia Clermont, but Campbell scored inside to tie the game at 13-13 after one quarter.  Smith quickly jumped out to an 18-13 after a two and a three by Yamada and the Pioneers jumped to a 35-24 lead at halftime, as Yamada buried three more from long range in the quarter.  Trinity sophomore guard Hannah Marzo (Shrewsbury, Mass.) banked in a triple to make it, 32-24, with 49 seconds left but Yamada made her fifth moments later.  Wax paced the Bantams at halftime with eight points.

Early the third quarter, Marzo hit a three-pointer and Campbell followed with a jumper to bring the Bantams to within single digits at 39-31 at the 6:42 mark.  Campbell scored again and Silva made a free throw later in the frame for a 42-36 deficit, but Smith's Morgan Morrison converted on a put-back and was fouled and then scored on another layup to close the quarter and make the score, 47-36, at the final break.  Trinity got as close as 10 points down in the final stanza on a trey by Silva, but Smith made 12 of 16 free throws in the last 10 minutes.  Camobell added seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks to her 12 points and Wax dished a team-high five assists. Silva notched nine points, seven boards, and four assists, and senior tri-captain guard Bria Fuller (Springdale, Md.) pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds. Morrison joined Yamada in double figures in scoring with 17 points.  Trinity committed just seven turnovers but shot 30.6 percent from the field.

"This was our goal since the beginning of the year and I am not surprised because of our potential and our heart and our mindset," said Campbell.  "We didn't get as far as thought we would but we definitely had a great season. I was so happy to see the environment. I love women's basketball and it was great to see so many Trinity supporters. Our parents go to every game and our men's team drove an hour up here.  It is great to see women's basketball and women's sports getting the attention that it deserves."