The TCNJ women’s basketball team ended the calendar year with a loss to fourth-ranked Smith College, falling 85-61 in Northampton, Massachusetts. The defeat leaves TCNJ with a 4-8 record as they prepare for their next game in early January.
Brooke McFadden led the Lions in scoring with 10 points and also collected five rebounds during her 26 minutes on the court. Newcomers Riley Ahrens and Olivia Voshell contributed eight points each off the bench, while Izzy Augustine added seven. On defense, Myah Hourigan-Hutton secured a team-high six rebounds, and Grace Kowalski provided two assists without committing a turnover in her season-high 34 minutes of play.
Smith (9-0) started strong after Virginia Johnson and McFadden exchanged baskets early. Hannah Martin’s layup sparked a 12-3 run that put Smith ahead 14-5 midway through the first quarter. TCNJ managed to stay close until midway through the second quarter but was unable to contain Smith’s offense late in the half. With Smith leading 27-20, they closed out the half on a decisive 20-4 run, taking a commanding 47-24 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, Smith continued its offensive surge by outscoring TCNJ 28-16. The Lions responded at the start of the fourth quarter with a strong 16-0 run that reduced their deficit to 19 points with just over four minutes remaining. However, TCNJ could not overcome what had been as much as a 35-point gap earlier in the game.
TCNJ shot 35.7 percent from the field and made an impressive showing at the free throw line by converting on nearly 80 percent of their attempts (19-of-24), setting or tying season-best marks for both made free throws and free throw percentage. From beyond the arc, however, they struggled—making only two of fifteen attempts for just over thirteen percent accuracy.
Despite winning the turnover battle by forcing more turnovers than they committed (13-11), TCNJ was still outscored by Smith in points off turnovers (23-16). For Smith, Johnson led all scorers with eighteen points on efficient shooting (7-of-8), while Ella Sylvester grabbed seven rebounds to pace her team.
Kowalski averaged eight points across both games played during this stretch and was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts.
TCNJ will begin its new year schedule against Rowan University on Wednesday, January 6th at home with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.
