Smith Handles Basketball, 63-48

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (Jan. 30, 2008) - Sophomore guard Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, N.J.) tallied game-highs of 14 points and eight rebounds to boost the Smith College women's basketball team to a 63-48 victory over Mount Holyoke College this evening in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at Ainsworth Gymnasium. With the win, the Pioneers improved their season record to 4-12, including a 2-5 mark in league play. Mount Holyoke fell to 3-14 overall and 0-6 versus Conference opponents.

Smith received solid production from junior forward Meredith Murelli (Litchfield, Conn.), who recorded 13 points and five boards. Sophomore guard Berit Schelde (Holstebro, Denmark) amassed 11 points and a game-best seven assists, while junior forward Courtney Parker (Ocean City, Md.) matched Vuono with eight rebounds.

Mount Holyoke was led by senior forward Marisa Barone (Ludlow, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson Academy), who gathered squad-highs of 14 points and seven boards. Junior guard Katie Austen (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) and sophomore guard Erin Cain (Quincy, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) chipped in with 12 and seven points, respectively, to round things out for the guests.

The lead exchanged hands six times in the opening eight minutes of play before the Pioneers put together a 12-0 run to open up a 25-12 edge with 9:01 remaining in the first half. Smith still enjoyed a 13 point (36-23) margin at the break. Murelli led all scorers with nine points in the opening frame.

Mount Holyoke used a 10-0 spurt to close the gap to ten points (45-35) at the 13:36 mark of the second stanza, but Smith responded with the next six points to put things out of reach. Vuono registered eight of her 14 points in the second period.

Mount Holyoke (3-14, 0-6 NEWMAC) is slated to host NEWMAC foe WPI on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Five of the Lyons final seven games will be played on their home court.

Game Statistics

Permanent link to this story: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/stories/5526591