Worcester, Mass. – Visiting Smith College got a monster game from freshman Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H.) and forced 33 Clark turnovers en route to a crucial 69-66 overtime win over the host Cougars on Wednesday evening in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball action.

The Pioneers improve to 12-9 with the win including a 9-6 ledger in conference action, while Clark drops its second straight close contest to dip to 8-14 and 7-8 in league play.

After committing 19 first half turnovers, surprisingly the Cougars found themselves down only four points (28-24) at halftime. That was due in large part to the fact that both teams struggled shooting the ball, combining to go 19-for-55 in the opening 20 minutes.

Things changed drastically for Clark in the next 20 minutes, however, as they made 52 percent of their attempts and held Smith to 39 percent, but the Pioneers owned the glass, holding a 23-13 edge.

Neither team led by more than five in the second half and when Smith moved ahead 52-47 on an Ashani Petrizzi (Deerfield, Mass.) score, the Cougars ran off six straight capped by an Esther Cohn (Carrboro, N.C.) hoop to move ahead 53-52 with less than four minutes remaining.

Petrizzi put the visitors in front 58-56 with a hoop on the break with less than two minutes to play, but Megan Grondin (Cumberland, Maine) answered back with a pair of free throws.

Drummond then scored inside for Smith with 1:20 left but a little less than a minute later Ashleigh Condon (Hull, Mass.) forced overtime with a short jumper.

After a Condon free throw made the score 66-62, with 1:34 left in the extra session, Clark wouldn't score again, as the Pioneers scored seven straight points to collect the victory.

First Marissa Munoz-Ruiz (Fairfield, Calif.) made a pair of free throws and following a turnover by the Cougars on the inbounds play, Libby Dutton (Deering, N.H.) drained the go-ahead three-pointer.

Clark then missed its next four shots to finish the overtime period 1-for-7 from the field.

Emily Reilly (Marlboro, Mass.) led all scorers with 21 points and six rebounds in 41 minutes of action for the Cougars, who also got 12 points and nine rebounds from Kate Minister (Manchester, England).

Drummond, who finished with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, had ten points and ten rebounds after halftime.

The game, which featured seven ties and ten lead changes, had 55 turnovers and 77 missed field goals.

Rebounds were even at 42-42, but the Pioneers controlled the interior, outscoring Clark 40-20 in the paint and 18-7 on second chance points.

In addition to Drummond, Amanda Zakoske (Jacksonville, Fla.) added 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals and Petrizzi added 15 points and five rebounds.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday with the Cougars traveling to Springfield, while Smith hosts Wheaton.