Smith Ends Framingham State’s Season in NCAA Division III Tournament Game 61-51

By Framingham State athletics

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NORTHAMPTON – The Framingham State University women’s basketball closed their season this evening suffering a 61-51 setback to Smith College in an opening round game of the 2022 NCAA Division III Basketball Championship. at Ainsworth Gym in Northhampton.

With the win Smith College advances with its 24-2 record.

With the loss, the Rams season ends at 22-4.

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INSIDE THE NUMBERS:  

• Flannery O’Connor paced the Rams on the offensive end with 15 points, seven boards, two steals and a block. 
• Katty Haidul chipped in with a double double effort of 12 points and a team-best 14 boards. 
• Gwendolyn Carpenter chipped in with a double double of her own scoring 14 points and hauling in 10 boards to go along with three assists and a steal. 
• The Rams struggled from the floor in the game connecting on just 31% of their offerings (18-57) and connecting on just 50% from the free throw line. 
• The Pioneers were led by a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for Morgan Morrison. 
• Katelyn Pickunka was the only other Smith player in double figures as she tallied 11 and grabbed eight boards with four assists, two steals and a block. 

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HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• The first quarter was back and forth with multiple ties.  Tied at 8-8, the Rams used a 7-2 run started with a Carpenter three and capped by an O’Connor bucket to take a 15-10 lead. 
• Smith tied the game at 15-15 but a Desrochers three put the Rams back on top 18-15 with just over one to play in the first. Smith scored the final four points to lead 19-18 after one quarter. 

• An O’Connor layup put the Rams back on top in the opening minute of the second, but Smith regained the lead and the two team would trade points to end the half with the Pioneers leading 29-26. 
• The Pioneers started the third quarter with a 16-2 run opening up a 45-28 lead midway through the quarter. 

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• The Rams chipped away at the lead to close the quarter trailing 48-37 after three. 
• The Rams cut the gap to eight on a Haidul layup a minute into the fourth, but a bucket from Morrison pushed the lead back to double digits. 
• After Smith extended the lead back to 12, the Rams closed the gap back to eight on an O’Connor jumper with just under five to play. 
• A pair of Haidul free throws closed the gap to 55-48 with just over three on the clock but back-to-back buckets for Smith pushed the lead back to 59-48 with just under two to play. 
• Jenna Tavanese answered with a big three for the Rams cutting the deficit to 59-51 with 1:44 on the clock, but that was as close as the Rams would get.