Northampton, Mass. – Clark freshman Megan Grondin (Cumberland, Maine) scored 14 points and classmate Emily Reilly (Marlboro, Mass.) just missed her first career double-double with 12 and nine rebounds as the visiting Cougars extended their winning streak to three games with a 59-55 win over Smith College on Thursday night.

The win for Clark moves their record to 5-9 overall – equaling their win total from a season ago and the three straight wins is their longest stretch since winning six in a row late in the 2008-09 season. In addition, the Cougars 4-3 mark in conference play leaves them in a three-way tie for fourth with the Pioneers and Wellesley.

The game, which was delayed by 24 hours thanks to the snowstorm that dumped 14 inches of snow on Western Massachusetts, got off to a nip-and-tuck start.  Zakoske grabbed the opening tip and coasted in for a layup, only to see the Cougars (5-9, 4-3 NEWMAC) respond by scoring six of the next 10 points to level the score on a pair of free throws by Maggie Croft (East Aurora, N.Y.). 

Smith (7-6, 4-3 NEWMAC) opened up their biggest lead of the game at 22-17 on a foul shot by Rosa Drummond, but Clark countered with a 12-2 run to close out the half, limiting Smith to just two field goals in the final 10:51 of the frame. Kate Minister (Manchester, England) drained a three that tied the game at 24, and Ivori Aiken (Harlem, N.Y.) followed suit with a triple from the left wing that put Clark in front, and the Cougars carried a 29-24 lead into intermission.

Clark picked up where they left off, getting a fast break layup from Reilly for the first points of the half that opened up a seven point lead, but Smith rebounded from three turnovers in the opening minutes of the half with a 7-2 run capped by Zakoske's hoop and free throw that leveled the score at 33 with 15:37 to play. 

After the teams traded two free throws each by Zakoske and Grondin tied the game for the ninth time, Clark eked out to a 42-37 lead on a Grondin bucket and two free throws by Michelle Chambers (The Bronx, N.Y.).

Smith would not go away, cutting the deficit to 50-48 when Marissa Munoz-Ruiz found Ashani Petrizzi in the lane for a short jumper, then found Devon Quattrocchi, making her first appearance of the New Year, in the corner for a three that gave Smith a 51-50 lead with 4:12 to play.

A Zakoske basket extended the advantage to 53-50 with only 1:40 remaining, but Clark would not be denied, closing the margin to one with two free throws by Reilly, and a traditional three point play by Ashleigh Condon (Hull, Mass.) that put the Cougars in front for good. 

Smith had two chances to tie the game, but a missed three pointer and an offensive foul put the game out of reach, and Grondin and Minister each hit two free throws to seal the win.

Zakoske set a new career high with 19 points on 8-14 shooting from the floor to lead all scorers. 

Condon was the third Cougar in double figures as she finished with ten points, three rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Smith will hit the road this weekend, heading to play at Wheaton College on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.  Clark will play host to Springfield College, at 1 p.m. on Saturday.