Smith College Advances to NCAA Championship After Nail-Biting Win

SALEM, Va. — Smith College secured a spot in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship after edging Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 49-47, in a tense semifinal matchup Thursday at the Cregger Center.

The Pioneers battled closely with the Titans throughout the game, unable to establish a significant lead until late in the fourth quarter. With critical free throws in the final moments, Smith managed to maintain their edge, despite a last-second 3-pointer attempt by Oshkosh that failed to find the basket.

“That was a grind,” Smith coach Lynn Hersey said. “Oshkosh is a great team, a very battle-tested and well-coached team. We were fortunate enough to make one more play than them this year.”

With the victory, Smith (31-2) prepares to face New York University in the championship game scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. NYU defeated Wisconsin-Stout, 74-55, in their semifinal contest. In last year’s championship, NYU outplayed the Pioneers, winning 51-41.

This championship clash will mark the first rematch in NCAA Division III women’s basketball history. “NYU has a lot of weapons,” Hersey noted. “They’ve only had a few close games this year. We have to recover, get our mindset ready.”

The Pioneers, led by standout player Hannah Martin with 18 points, are ready to reclaim the title. “It’s exciting to have another opportunity,” Martin said. “We’ve played some really good teams this tournament and found a way to win.”

Throughout the game, Smith’s defense proved vital, limiting Oshkosh to a mere 2-of-22 from beyond the arc and holding their leading scorer, Kayce Vaile, to just two points.

Pioneer Jane Loo highlighted the team’s preparation under their coaching staff: “I feel grateful that our coaching staff prepares us the way they do. I can play freely because we have all the tools to succeed.”

In a game defined by its closely contested quarters, both teams faced early struggles. Smith’s Virginia Johnson opened the scoring in the final seconds of the first quarter with a 3-pointer, giving her team a 14-9 lead. But the Titans clawed back, ending the first half with a 23-22 advantage.

In the second half, Smith regained the lead, driven by late-game heroics from Ally Landoue, who scored critical baskets to help push the Pioneers ahead. A pivotal moment came with just over two minutes left when Martin scored to give Smith a 46-42 lead.

The game’s intensity did not relent, especially in the final seconds. The Pioneers executed perfectly down the stretch, forcing Oshkosh to foul. Johnson’s free throws extended their lead to 48-45, and a lone free throw from Martin sealed the victory.

<p“Our ability to not play our best and still win speaks to the mental fortitude of this group,” Hersey said. “We found a way to generate some momentum in the second half.”