BENNINGTON, Vt. - The Southern Vermont College women's basketball team hosted the Smith College Pioneers in a non-conference battle that left the Mountaineers with the loss as the buzzer rang with Smith up 69-35. Senior Berit Schelde led the Pioneers with 17 points, while Joa Claircius led SVC with 16.
The loss drops the Mountaineers to 1-4 overall while the Pioneers improve to 3-1.
Smith came out hot and led 15-3 after 10 minutes but Southern Vermont began to gain momentum making a quick seven points to pull within seven (17-10) with six minutes to go in the first half. The Pioneers turned it up a notch from then on and led 36-14 at the end of the first. In the second half Smith led by as much as 40 points as it shot nearly 40% from the field overall in the game. The Mountaineers struggled to move the ball on an aggressive Pioneers defense as it shot 22% (12-54).
Close behind Schelde was Lisa Marie Vuono who had a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards. Vuono also had three steals and four assists. The rebounding for Smith was led by Amanda Zakoske who pulled down 14 and she also chipped in eight points for the Pioneers who moved the ball well.
Junior Rachel Pannell was a rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards for the Mountaineers. Kiara Bates had five rebounds, two steals, and two monster blocks to help out on the defensive effort for SVC.
Both teams made nine free-throws and both teams had 13 fouls a piece. The rebounds were also close with Smith grabbing 51 while Southern Vermont had 46 in a seemingly even game that was decided by the Pioneers fluent offense.
The Mountaineers are back in action Tuesday, December 1st, when it hosts New England College (2-4) with a tip-off set for 7:00 p.m.