NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Husson University women's basketball team fought tooth and nail with regional powerhouse as they fell to No. 4/No. 11 Smith College Pioneers, 77-66, in the championship game of the 33rd Annual Tyler Tip-off tournament on Sunday afternoon.

The Pioneers (2-0) went on a 9-0 run in the middle of the first quarter, before the Eagles (1-1) fought their way back as they held a 20-16 lead after ten minutes. Junior Sophia McVicar continued her scoring power from yesterday as she led the Eagles in the opening frame with nine points on her three three-pointers made.

The second quarter showed just why Smith College made the final four last year as they scored 11 straight points to begin the quarter en route to 23 points in which they led at halftime, 39-27.

It was a very even second half as the Eagles outscored the Pioneers by a single point as the NEWMAC school came away with the victory.

Senior Trinity Montigny led the scoring for the Eagles with 14 points while graduate student Bailey Donovan recorded a second-straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds en route to all-tournament selection. Senior Makaelyn Porter tallied 13 points and junior Hannah Richards chipped in 10 points.

The season-opening three-game road trip ends on Wednesday when the women's basketball team takes on the Huskies of Southern Maine for a 5:30 p.m. non-conference matchup.