NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The seventh-ranked Trinity College Women's Basketball team suffered a 66-63 setback to host 11th-ranked Smith College in a non-conference battle at Ainsworth Gymnasium Sunday afternoon. The Bantams move to 4-1 on the season, while Smith rises to 4-1 overall.
Trinity jumped to a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter behind a pair of three-pointers from senior Emma Wax. Bantams sophomore Samantha Slofkiss netted four points, followed by a five-point spurt from first year Olivia Vick to build a 19-10 advantage. Smith closed the gap to 19-14 after the first quarter.
The Pioneers trimmed the gap to a possession, 19-16, but Trinity answered with a 7-0 run to regain a 26-16 advantage with 5:48 to play in the half. Trinity sophomore Theresa Twardosky scored five straight points to help the Bantams maintain their lead, and then junior Indi DelRocco added a pair of late free throws to give the Bantams a 33-24 heading into halftime
Twardosky tallied the Bantams opening five points to push the Trinity advantage to 38-29 at the 7:35 mark. Trinity continued to push the pace over the next three minutes, executing a 12-9 run to take a 50-38 lead. The Bantams held a double-digit lead behind a three-pointer from Twardosky and a bucket from Slofkiss, and then late Smith basket set the score at 56-47 leading into the final quarter.
Trailing 58-49 with 8:51 to play, the Pioneers rallied back with an 9-0 run over the next three minutes, paced by five points from senior Jessie Ruffner, to erase the deficit and even the score at 58-58 with 5:36 on the clock. The Bantams struggled to find a bucket in the final minutes, shooting 1-of-8 from the field, while Ruffner carried the Pioneers down the stretch, scoring their final eight points en route to the 66-63 win.
Twardosky led the Bantams offense with a career-high 17 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-7 from three-point range, with two rebounds. Slofkiss registered a season-high 10 points with eight rebounds, while Wax and graduate Bria Fuller added eight points apiece.
Ruffner powered the Pioneers offense with a game-high 31 points, shooting 12-of-20 from the floor, with eight rebounds and two assists. Graduate Sofia Rosa logged a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Pioneers edged the Bantams on the glass, 33-28, and in points in the paint, 34-32. Trinity connected on 25-of-56 (44.6%) from the field, including 7-of-19 (36.8%) from three-point range, and 6-of-10 (60%) from the foul line. Smith shot 24-of-57 (42.1%) from the floor, 1-of-11 from three-point (9.1%), and 17-of-24 (70.8%) from the free throw stripe.
The Bantams returned to action when they host Rhode Island College in non-conference action at Oosting Gymnasium Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
TRINITY ATHLETICS
