New Paltz, NJ (March 6, 2020) - Smith College shot 65.2 percent from the field handing the 20th ranked DeSales University women's basketball team an 81-72 loss in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Friday evening.

The Basics

• Final Score: Smith - 81, DeSales - 72
• Records: DeSales (23-5 overall); Smith (25-4 overall)
• The Bulldogs end their season with back-to-back NCAA Appearances and MAC Freedom Championships.

• The Bulldogs started quickly taking a 6-2 and led 10-5 after back-to-back layups from sophomores Samantha Shinkus and Averi Jordan.
• DSU continued to lead, trading baskets, by three (18-15) at the 2:47 mark of the first quarter when Smith finished the quarter on a 10-4 run to take a 25-22 lead.
• Smith led by seven (31-24) when the Bulldogs scored seven straight points to tie the game at 31, but SC scored eight straight to take a 39-31 lead and led by five (41-36) at the half.
• It remained a five-point game with 4:54 left in the third quarter when Smith scored seven straight points to take a 54-43 lead and held that lead thru three quarters (63-52).
• DSU got within eight on a lay-up from Jordan at the 8:19 mark of the fourth quarter, but Smith answered that rally with nine straight points to take a 74-57 lead with 5:21 to go and never looked back.

• Jordan led all scorers with 30 points, shooting 14-for-23 from the field.
• Sophomore Rylie Rittenhouse added 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds off the bench.
• Shinkus finished with 10 points and six assists and Newsome handed out seven helpers.
• Senior Molly Jansco finished her career with four points and three rebounds.

• Amelia Clairmont led Smith with 24 points.
• Katelyn Pickunka added 18 points and seven boards.
• Dashelle Gleissner totaled 16 points and six assists.

• Smith torched the nets shooting 65.2 percent from the field.
• DeSales attempted 30 more shots than Smith (76-46).
• Smith out-rebounded DeSales, 37-30.
• The Bulldogs forced 22 turnvoers leading to 18 points.