Northampton, Mass. - Paulina Solis scored a game-high 18 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:00 remaining, as the Smith College defeated visiting Babson for the first time in nearly five years with a 63-60 decision in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball tilt on Wednesday night in Ainsworh Gymnasium.

With the win, the Pioneers snapped an 11-game drought against Babson and collected their first win over the Beavers since a 65-58 decision in Babson Park on January 24, 2009. Both teams sport identical 7-9 records overall and 7-5 ledgers in conference play.

Solis registered six steals as Sydney Parkmond added 15 points for the Pioneers. Parkmond and Rosa Drummond coralled six rebounds apiece.

Linnett Graber amassed a double-double with 13 points and a game-best 10 rebounds as Giovanna Pickering tossed in a team-high 14 points for the guests. Taylor Russell pitched in with nine caroms on the night.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 6-0 advantage just over two minutes into the game. Nearly 30 seconds later, Babson's Kristen Ferola drained a three to spark a 9-3 outburst that resulted in the first of seven ties in the opening frame with 14:53 showing on the scoreboard. Neither team was able to get more than a three-point lead until Megan Otto's jumper with just over a minute and a half left before the break to put the visitors ahead 28-24. The Pioneers tied it back up at 28-all before a late layup by Pickering sent Babson into the locker room with the 30-28 lead.

Babson pushed its lead to five on three occasions in the first 6:30 of play in the second half before the Pioneers whittled away and took the 46-45 advantage following a Mandy Castro three-pointer midway through the stanza. Later in the half, Solis hit the go-ahead triple and Castro added a pair of freebies for a five (63-58) point cushion with 1:17 left in the half. Otto sank a layup with just over a minute to go for the 63-60 final.

The Pioneers held a 22-12 margin in points off turnovers and a 26-16 advantage in the paint. The Beavers had rhe upper hand in rebounds (41-32) and bench points (20-15),

Smith travels to Wheaton on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. tip while Babson hosts Springfield at 3:00 p.m.

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