Strong Offensive Performance Leads No. 4 Smith Basketball in Season Opener

Game Leaders

Keene State
Pts: 2 Players (#02, #03 - 6)
Reb: 3 Players (#13, #23, #30 - 3)
Ast: 3 Players (#11, #13, #20 - 1)
Smith
Pts: Ally Yamada - 16
Reb: Jessie Ruffner - 10
Ast: Jessie Ruffner - 6

Team Stats

Keene State
Smith

Field Goals

(12-55)
(40-61)

Field Goal %

21.8%
65.6%

Rebounds

20
42

Assists

3
31

Turnovers

22
11

Pts off Turnovers

9
39

2nd Chance Pts

7
11

Pts in the Paint

6
46

Fastbreak Pts

7
23

Bench Pts

12
61
full stats
Nov 11, 2023

NORTHAMPTON - The Smith College basketball team established a new program record for points in the team's 110-34 win over Keene State in the 32nd Annual Tyler Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon inside Ainsworth Gymnasium. The Pioneers, who are ranked No. 4 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Preseason Poll, begin the year 1-0, while the Owls dip to 1-1 on the season. 

Inside the Numbers

  • Ally Yamada (Seal Beach, Calif./Fairmont Prep Academy) led Smith with 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three
  • Sofia Rosa (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field to finish with 13 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals
  • Jessie Ruffner (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin) added six points, grabbed 10 boards and dished out a game-high six assists, while Amelia Clairmont (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton School) chipped in six points with five assists and three boards
  • Smith's 31 assists are the second most all-time behind their 34 assists against SUNY Morrissville last year
  • The Pioneers owned a 42-20 rebounding advantage
  • Smith shot a game record 65.6% (40-of-61) from the field and 56.5% (13-of-23) from long distance
  • The Owls went 12-of-55 (21.8%) from the floor and 28.6% from three-point range

How it Happened

  • Smith knocked down its first five shots of the quarter and never looked back as they jumped out to a 24-6 lead after the first period
  • The hot shooting continued in the second as Smith went on a 13-0 run and went 11-of-13 from the floor. Hannah Martin(North Andover, MA/North Andover) ended the half with a steal and fastbreak layup to put the Pioneers ahead 57-17 at the break
  •  The lead ballooned to 58 as Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) knocked down a three to beat the buzzer at the end of the third and Smith cruised in the fourth for the 76 point victory

Game Notes

  • Today's 110 points beats the previous record (108) set in 2018 against Westfield State
  • Ainsworth Gymnasium continues to be a tough place for opponents as Smith is riding a 39-game home win streak
  • Smith has won its last nine home-openers under head coach Lynn Hersey
  • Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett) scored a career-high 14 points off the bench and the Smith first-class of Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover), Maggie Fleming (), Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran), and Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) combined for 36 points

Up Next
The Pioneers take on the Eagles of Husson University in the Tyler Tip-Off Championship game at 4:00pm tomorrow.

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.