BOSTON, Mass. (February 11, 2026) – Smith College, ranked No. 6 in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division III coaches poll, held Emerson College to just eight field goals over the final three quarters and rode a balanced offensive effort in securing a 73-41 victory in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball matchup on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium this evening.
Junior Virginia Johnson led Smith's four double-figure scorers with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, finishing 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, including 5-for-9 from three-point range. Sophomore Kate Hackney added 15 points off the bench for the Bears on 7-of-8 shooting with eight rebounds, three assists, a blocked shot and steal to lead a reserve unit that outscored the Emerson bench 30-5.
Juniors Felicia Fongemie and Hannah Martin each contributed 12 points to round out Smith's double-figure scorers. Martin also pulled down eight boards and dished four assists with two steals, while Fongemie chipped in three rebounds and two steals.
Sophomore Lindsay Gould scored ten of her team-best 13 points for Emerson in the first quarter to help the Lions grab an early 11-point lead (17-6) after a hook shot with 3:53 remaining in the opening frame. She added four rebounds, while classmate Jessie Silk totaled 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds, with two assists and two steals. Senior Bri Frongillo chipped in seven points, five assists and three rebounds.
Emerson answered the opening basket by Fongemie with a 13-2 run, spearheaded by eight points from Gould, including a pair of three-pointers, to grab a nine-point lead (13-4) after a Silk layup less than five minutes into the contest. The Lions stretched that lead to 11 (17-6) with Gould's tenth point of the opening quarter, but Smith scored the final seven points of the frame, sparked by a Johnson triple, to draw back within four (17-13) heading to the second.
After shooting 7-for-15 (46.7-percent) in the opening quarter, including 3-for-10 (30%) from long range, Emerson would total just 24 points the rest of the way on a combined 8-for-38 (21%) shooting. The two teams would merely combine for the Lions first quarter scoring in the second as the hosts held onto a three-point halftime lead (25-22).
Smith more than doubled its first half scoring total with a 30-point third to take control of the game. The Bears outscored Emerson 10-3 over the opening three minutes of the third quarter, including eight from Hackney, to grab a four-point lead (32-28). Silk buried a three at the other end to pull the Lions back within a point (32-31) with 6:32 remaining in the quarter, but Smith scored the next 12 points, sparked by a pair of triples by Johnson, to push its lead into double-figures (44-31) with 3:40 on the clock.
Smith extended its lead to 16 (52-36) heading to the fourth and pulled away from there. The Bears would finish shooting 58.8-percent (20-for-34) in the second half, including 6-for-10 (60%) from deep, while limiting Emerson to 5-for-28 shooting in the half. The Lions were better from three-point range in the second half (4-for-19) than inside, connecting on 1-of-9 inside the arc. Smith finished with a 40-10 advantage in points in the paint.
Noteworthy
- Silk has scored in double figures a team-high 16 times this season (31st career), including four-straight, leading Emerson in rebounding for the 13th game this year.
- Gould scored in double digits for the second-straight game and ninth time this season overall.
- Emerson's fifth-straight setback drops the Lions into ninth place in the NEWMAC standings (3-5) with three games to play, sitting a half game behind WPI, Coast Guard and Wellesley who are all 3-4 in Conference play.
- Smith dealt Emerson just its third loss in nine home games this season.
Up Next
Emerson (12-10, 3-5 NEWMAC) returns to action here on Boylston Street on Saturday when it hosts Mount Holyoke College for a NEWMAC matchup on Senior Day at Brown and Plofker Gym at 1 p.m. Smith (21-1, 8-0 NEWMAC) hosts WPI on Saturday at 2 p.m.
For the latest on Emerson Athletics, follow the Lions via social media on Instagram as well as online at emersonlions.com powered by SIDEARM Sports.
