NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - First-year standout Samantha Alakai (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) recorded career-highs in points (24) and rebounds (9) to lead the Pioneers Tuesday, but it wasn't enough as Trinity College rallied for a 63-61 non-conference win Wednesday night at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

With the win, the Bantams (8-15) snap a two game skid while the Pioneers fall to 7-14 on the year.

Senior co-captain Lauren Weston (Florence, Mass./Northampton) converted an and-one opportunity with 48 seconds to play to cut Smith's deficit to one, 62-61. The Pioneers then forced the Bantams to turn the ball after the shot clock expired with 18 seconds remaining, but alas, Smith could not get a good look at the basket on their final possession.

Smith opened the game with a 6-2 run, highlighted by four from Alakai. Mackenzie Griffin (Stamford, Conn.) broke the ice for the Bantams with four of her team-best 23 points. The Pioneers went on a 9-0 run over the next 4:37 to take a 17-7 lead with 8:27 left in the first stanza. Trinity's Christina Raiti (Plainview, N.Y.) answered with five of the next seven points for the Bantams, bringing the guests to within three (17-14). A layup by Griffin with 50 seconds to play put the visitors ahead by three (31-28), but Alakai drained a three with six seconds on the clock to tie the contest, 31-31 at the half.

Smith evened the game twice shortly after action resumed as Alakai sank a layup at 17:48 and first-year Meghan Holland (Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prepatory) canned a jumper at 17:07. The Pioneers then took a 36-35 lead following an Alakai free throw with 15:58 to play. Emily Llerena (New Milford, Conn.) responded with her only basket of the contest to give the Bantams the lead once again. Trinity then increased their cushion to five with 12:34 on the clock. Weston drained an up and under layup, and sophomore Mandy Castro (San Diego, Calif./Poway) sank her first three-pointer of the game to knot the contest at 46-46 with 10:12 to play. The contest remained close the rest of the way.

Griffin paced the Bantams with 23 points to go with 13 rebounds for her third straight double-double while Raiti finished with 12 points. Higgins and Alexa Menard (Wallingford, Conn.) each added 10 points for Trinity.

Holland added 13 points, three rebounds and two assists while sophomore Jade Chihara(Lahaina, Hawaii/Lahainaluna) pitched in with five helpers and three steals. Weston finished with 11 points, five boards and three blocks.

Trinity held a narrow advantage on the glass (32-to-31) and in second chance points (13-to-11). Both sides scored 26 points in the paint, while Smith forced 18 turnovers while turning the ball over just 12 times.

The Bantams close out the regular-season at home against Middlebury College on Friday at 7 p.m. Smith returns to conference play on Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Babson College Beavers.