Northampton, MA --- Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN) paced all scorers with 19 points as nationally-ranked Smith remained unbeaten in conference play, defeating visiting WPI 60-38 in NEWMAC women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Ainsworth Gymnasium.
 
Smith, ranked sixth in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, improves to 22-1 overall and 9-0 in NEWMAC play, while the Engineers slip to 13-10 overall and 4-5 in conference action. The Crimson and Gray remain in sixth place, now tied with Emerson, an 87-44 winner over Mount Holyoke, and one game ahead of Coast Guard and Wellesley with just two regular-season games remaining. WPI travels to Wellesley on Wednesday before closing out the 11-game NEWMAC slate Saturday at home against Clark.
 
Emmy Allyn (Rutland, MA) led WPI with 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting performance, including 2-of-2 from three-point range. Ava Hyams (Kearny, NJ) added eight points, while Corinn Ouellette (Trumbull, CT) and Ava Giansiracusa (Wethersfield, CT) each finished with six. Giansiracusa also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists. Megan Stone (Hanson, MA) chipped in four points as the Engineers shot 35 percent from the floor but were forced into 23 turnovers, which the Pioneers converted into 27 points.
 
Johnson netted her 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, while adding seven rebounds. Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA) recorded 10 points and six rebounds, and Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA) contributed nine points and three assists. Selam Maher (St. Louis Park, MN) added a key three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
 
The Pioneers shot 39 percent from the field, connected on six three-pointers, and went 12-of-13 from the free throw line while holding a 25-21 edge on the glass.
Smith built a 12-8 first-quarter lead before extending the margin in the second quarter behind Johnson's perimeter shooting and transition baskets, stretching the advantage to 30-17 at halftime after forcing 16 first-half turnovers.
 
WPI showed signs of life in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 35-27 following a three-pointer from Allyn and a layup from Stone. Johnson answered with a three-pointer and a driving finish to halt the momentum, pushing the lead back to double digits entering the final period.
 
The decisive stretch came midway through the fourth quarter. After Hyams connected from beyond the arc to make it 47-36 with 5:30 to play, Smith responded with a 9-2 run fueled by back-to-back three-pointers from Johnson and Maher to secure the 60-38 victory.
 
WPI returns to action Wednesday with a 7pm road contest at Wellesley in NEWMAC play. Smith remains in Northampton to host Babson on Wednesday at 7pm in conference action.