Statistics

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Four players in double figures powered No.7 Smith College in a 76-63 women's basketball result versus the University of New England to begin the Tyler Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 12) at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

The Pioneers (1-0) draw Rhode Island College in the event's title game, while the Nor'easters (1-1) get The College of New Jersey on Sunday at 2 p.m. Saturday's second contest played out to a 78-68 win for RIC over TCNJ.

A game-high 15 points came from Smith's Katelyn Pickunka, who also had seven rebounds and three steals. After Ally Yamada's 12 points, Morgan Morrison and Dashelle Gleissner each contributed 10. Morrison corralled a dozen rebounds to power the 44-30 advantage on the boards, while Gleissner chipped in with six assists and three steals.

The hosts had a decided edge at the charity stripe, going 26-for-30 (87%) to UNE's 14-of-23 (61%).

For the Nor'easters, Kaylee Beyor put up 12 points and eight rebounds. Juliana Tracey and Jordyn Franzen, prior to fouling out, each added eight points, and Faye Veilleux notched seven more.

The Pioneers raced to a lead as large as 11 during the 1st quarter. What settled at 19-12 through 10 minutes was then reduced to one by UNE (19-18, 26-25), but Smith countered with the next six and led 32-27 at the half.

The visitors trimmed the deficit to one, again, in the 3rd (34-33), only to see the Pioneers surge to a 55-40 cushion by the conclusion of the penultimate period.