NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – First-year Paige Marquez (San Francisco, Calif./Saint Ignatius College Preparatory) posted a season-high 15 points, but the Smith College basketball team fell to the Springfield College Pride, 57-40 on Wednesday evening in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams.

The Pride (1-3, 1-0 NEWMAC) had a pair score in double figures, led by 18 points from junior Heather Lewis (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs). Senior Jaimie Bickelhaupt (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) notched her third double-double of the season, tallying 13 points and 13 rebounds. Marquez paced Smith (1-4, 0-1 NEWMAC) with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-4 from behind the arc, while first-year Samantha Alakai (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) chipped in 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Springfield led from start to finish and opened up an 11-point lead after 15 and-a-half minutes of play. Smith went without a basket for a near five-and-a-half-minute stretch in which the Pride scored 12 straight points and bumped the margin to 13 at 22-9 with 2:56 to go in the half.

The Pride led 29-11 at intermission while shooting 36 percent in the opening half and out-rebounded the Pioneers 22-12.

In the second half, Springfield never let their lead dip below 17 and led by as many as 26. Lewis scored 10 of her 18 points in the stanza.

The Pride recorded assists on 16 of 22 field goals. Senior Andrea Moschetta (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) and sophomore Dina Pitsas (Milford, N.H./Milford) each handed out four helpers.

Springfield finished the game with a 38-to-29 edge in rebounding. The Pioneers forced 14 turnovers that turned into 11 points on the offensive end.

Sophomore Jade Chihara (Lahaina, Hawaii/Lahainaluna) led the defensive efforts for Smith, finishing with a game-high three steals and a blocked shot.

Springfield will host Wheaton College on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. while Smith returns to action on the road against Clark University on Saturday at 1 p.m.