NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The No. 3 Clark University women's basketball team (19-9) competed in their first NEWMAC Championship since 2005 against No. 1 Smith (27-1) and led going into the fourth quarter, but the Bears rallied to earn a 72-65 victory on Sunday afternoon from Ainsworth Gymnasium.

Smith earned their sixth consecutive NEWMAC title and Clark competed in their sixth NEWMAC Championship in program history. First-year Atiya Watson scored a career-high 24 points.

How it Happened

• The Cougars opened the game on a 12-6 run sparked by seven points from Watson and junior Emma Drefs before a triple from Drefs with 5:37 left in the first as they pushed their lead to nine.
• Smith answered with a 7-2 run led by three points from Hannah Martin and the Cougars bucket came from junior Olivia Shipley before Watson converted an and-one to extend their lead to 20-13.
• First-year Leilani Benson, Watson, and junior Mia Mabanag combined for Clark's final seven points of the quarter, with a Mabanag triple giving the scarlet and white a 27-18 lead entering the second.
• Junior Kailey Rios and Watson each hit triples to open the second and a made jumper from Benson pushed their advantage to 35-19 with 6:39 remaining.
• Virginia Johnson hit a pair of triples for Smith and the Bears pulled to within four before the break, but another Rios triple pushed the Clark lead to 40-34 entering the locker room.
• Smith pulled to within two before Watson made a pair of free throws before a triple from Drefs gave the Cougars a 45-41 edge with 4:11 to go in the third.
• After Smith tied the game at 47-47, Benson and Rios scored five unanswered points and after another Johnson triple, Watson made a layup before the end of the quarter gave Clark a 54-50 lead entering the fourth.
• Smith opened the fourth with an 8-2 run with the Cougar bucket coming from Rios as the Bears took a 58-56 edge before Watson tied the contest up at 58-58 with 6:46 remaining.
• Martin scored the next eight points in the game before a Shipley free throw cut Clark's deficit to 66-59 with 2:50 to go.
• Coleman brought Clark to within six with a free throw, but down the stretch Martin, Johnson, and Uta Nakamura each hit free throws and the Cougars got points from first-year Ashley Leighton and Coleman as they fell 72-65.

Inside the Box Score

• Clark made 22 shots, hit 10 three-pointers, grabbed 26 rebounds, dished out seven assists, and forced 18 turnovers.
• Watson netted a career-high 24 points with seven made shots, connected on seven free throws, and hit three triples.
• Rios added 11 points, made three three-pointers, and tallied three steals.
• Drefs also reached double-figures with 10 points, with four made shots and hit a pair of threes.