NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Clark University women's basketball (15-6, 6-1 NEWMAC) traveled to Smith (20-1, 7-0 NEWMAC) on Saturday afternoon for a battle with the No. 6 nationally ranked Bears. The Cougars battled for the full forty minutes but the Bears were able to maintain a thin lead and hold on at the end to win 76-64.  

How it Happened

• The lead exchanged sides seven times over the first five minutes of the game, with the Cougars briefly pulling ahead off layups from sophomore Cyriah Coleman and junior Olivia Shipley, before a three from junior Catherine Antwi gave Clark a 9-8 lead with 5:17 to go in the first.

• The Bears were able to pull away late in the quarter, with a layup by first-year Atiya Watson accounting for the final points of the period as Smith took a 17-12 lead after one.

• Clark kept it close to start the second quarter, as a pair of layups by junior Emma Drefs and first-year Leilani Benson cut the deficit to three with six minutes to play in the half.

• Late layups by junior Bella Galatt and Shipley made it a 33-27 game with Smith in front heading into the halftime break.

• A quick layup by Watson, followed by a three from Coleman, made it a one-point game just two minutes into the third.

• The Bears regained a six-point lead before another triple from Coleman cut it to 38-35 with five minutes remaining in the quarter.

• The lead briefly reached nine twice, but two more threes from Coleman and a Watson layup allowed Clark to enter the final ten minutes trailing by just six.

• A layup by junior Kailey Rios briefly cut the deficit to four, but a strong stretch by Smith, capped by a layup from Shipley, put the Bears back in front 58-50 with five minutes to play.

• The Cougars continued to battle in the final five minutes, with threes from Rios, Watson, and Antwi, but while Clark cut the deficit to as low as seven, they couldn't complete the comeback as Smith closed out the 76-64 win at home.

Inside the Box Score

• The Cougars hit 23 shots, including nine makes from behind the arc. They grabbed 28 rebounds, assisted on nine shots, and forced 13 turnovers.

• Coleman led the way with 22 points and five rebounds, including a career-best five makes from behind the arc.

• Watson poured in 16 points while also hauling in three rebounds.

• Shipley contributed seven points, five rebounds, a steal, and a block.

• Rios added seven points while hauling in three rebounds. 

What's Next

The Scarlet and White remain on the road with a trip to Wellesley on Wednesday for a 7:00 PM tipoff.