HARTFORD, CT - The Smith College basketball team thwarted off a late rally to hold on for a 71-68 overtime win against Trinity College Sunday afternoon in Oosting Gymnasium.

The seventh-ranked Pioneers move to 5-0 on the year, while Trinity loses its first game of the season and dips to 2-1. 

How it Happened

• The Bantams rushed out to a 9-2 lead before Smith closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run
• The Pioneers momentum continued in the second quarter, outscoring the hosts 15-5, while shooting 77.8% from the floor in the frame
• Ella Sylvester put Smith up 12-11 on a jumper to open the quarter and the 9-0 run was capped off by Katelyn Pickunka's (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) layup with 3:59 remaining
• Emma Wax made Trinity's only basket of the quarter as the Pioneers took a 25-16 advantage into halftime
• Two free throw from Morrison gave Smith's largest lead at 35-23 midway through the third quarter but Trinity clawed back to come within 37-36 going into the fourth
• Smith led 51-48 after a reverse layup by Pickunka but Wax scored on a drive to cut Trinity's lead to one. 
• Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) knocked down one of two free throws for Smith, however the Bantams forced overtime on an inbounds play with 21 second on the clock
• The extra period saw the teams exchange baskets until Smith was able to pull ahead 68-62 with 40 seconds on the clock
• The Bantams continued to fight its way back and came withing 70-68 on a put-back by Indi Del Rocco with six seconds on the clock
• Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) knocked down a free throw and a last second shot from Trinity fell short as Smith came away with the 71-68 victory

Inside the Numbers

• Morgan Morrison (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) scored a season-high 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds
• Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) finished with 17 points and two assists, while Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire) added 14 points, eight boards and three steals
• The Pioneers shot 52.9% (27-of-51) from the floor, 25.0% (3-of-12) from three-point range, and 60.9% (14-of-23) from the free-throw line
• The Bantams shot 35.0% (21-of-60) from the field, 20.0% (5-of-25) from behind the arc, and 65.6% (21-of-32) at the charity stripe.
• Trinity won the battle on the boards (35-31), but Smith ended the night with advantaged in points on the paint (44-26) and points off turnovers (15-12) 
• The Pioneers have now won five-straight over the Bantams

Up Next
Smith will host Eastern Connecticut State University Thursday at 6:00pm.