NEW LONDON, Conn.-- Jessie Ruffner scored a game-high 29 points to lead Smith to a 79-67 victory over Coast Guard women's basketball in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Wednesday night. The Bears drop to 14-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play, while Smith improves to 19-4 on the season and 5-3 in the NEWMAC.

Ruffner went 10-15 from the field and shot 5-7 from behind the arc. Elle Jo Whalen scored 18 points for the Pioneers and tied the game-high in rebounds with nine. Dashelle Gleissner tallied 16 points and had a team-high four assists for Smith.

Sophomore Emma Puddington scored a team-high 22 points going 9-18 from the field and 2-5 from behind the arc. Junior Annabella Farabaugh added 12 points and sophomore Kyra Hartman scored 10 points for the Bears. Senior Breanna Wood had a team-high eight rebounds, including five defensive.

The Pioneers used a huge surge after trailing by four, 59-55 to open the fourth quarter. Ruffner and Gleissner combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers outshot Coast Guard, 24-8. Smith scored the opening seven points of the quarter, to take a 62-59 lead. Amelia Clairmont scored a three-pointer for Smith with 5:50 remaining, sparking a 10-2 run to open the Pioneers lead, 72-63. Smith scored the final four points of the game for the 79-67 final.

Puddington scored eight points in first as Coast Guard outscored Smith 25-22 in the opening quarter.

Smith came out in the second half with a 12-2 run to take a 34-27 lead. Hartman responded, scoring the following five points to bring the Bears within two, 34-32 with 2:48 remaining in the half. Smith scored the last five points of the half to hold a 39-32 advantage.

Puddington led all scorers in the third quarter quarter with 10 points as the Bears outscored Smith 27-16.

The Pioneers were 33-76 (43.4%) from the field as the Bears went 27-66 (40.9%). The Pioneers outrebounded the Bears, 51-31.

The Bears are back in action on the road at Clark on Saturday, February 15 at 1 PM.