Basketball Edges Smith in Thriller, 47-46

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Feb. 16, 2008) - Sophomore guard Erin Cain (Quincy, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) delivered 16 points and five rebounds to boost the Mount Holyoke College women's basketball team to a thrilling 47-46 victory over New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Smith College this afternoon at the Mildred Howard Gymnasium. With the win, the Lyons avenged a 63-48 setback at Smith on January 30 and evened the season series at one game apiece. Mount Holyoke has defeated the Pioneers in five of the programs' last six meetings.

The Lyons received a solid all-around effort from senior forward Marisa Barone (Ludlow, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson Academy), who recorded ten points and a game-best 14 boards. It was her second double-double of the season and third of her career. Sophomore center Kate Shafir (Newton, Mass./Beaver Country Day School) posted eight points, while classmate Jess Olson (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) collected 12 rebounds.

Setting the tone for Smith was sophomore guard Berit Schelde (Holstebro, Denmark/Falkonergaardens), who netted a team-high 12 points. First year guard Anna Veltri (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) finished with 11 points, while sophomore guard Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy) added 12 boards.

Trailing 27-18 at the 3:15 mark of the opening frame, Mount Holyoke scored the last four points of the first half and first five of the second to even things up at 27-27 in the early stages of the second stanza.

A jumper by Cain at the 16:37 mark gave the Lyons their first lead (31-29) of the game. The hosts used a 7-0 run to stretch their advantage to 47-39 with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. Shafir closed out the spurt with a jumper. It was Mount Holyoke's last field goal of the afternoon.

Smith rallied for the next six points to pull to within one (47-46), but that's where the things would end, as neither team found the basket over the final 2:18. The Pioneers had seven shots to either tie or take the lead in the waning minutes. Senior guard Ashley Sutton (Greenfield, Mass./Mohawk Trail) had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but her layup rimmed out.

Both squads are slated to resume league play away from home on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Mount Holyoke (5-17, 2-9 NEWMAC) will visit the Coast Guard Academy, while Smith (4-17, 2-9) will travel to Springfield College.

Game Statistics


The Mount Holyoke College Department of Athletics partnered with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer through the "Think Pink" initiative.

Permanent link to this story: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/stories/5533955