Bears Win: Season Opener vs. Albertus Magnus

Smith College Women’s Basketball Dominates Albertus Magnus, Advances in Tyler Tip-Off Tournament

Smith College women’s basketball team secured a resounding 78-44 victory over Albertus Magnus College in the opening game of the Tyler Tip-Off Tournament, showcasing a commanding performance fueled by a dominant rebounding advantage. The win, achieved on Saturday, November 9th, 2025, at Ainsworth Gymnasium, sets the stage for a compelling matchup against the University of hartford in the tournament’s second round.

The Bears established control early,capitalizing on a 47-23 rebounding differential that stifled Albertus Magnus’ offensive opportunities. Virginia Johnson ignited the scoring for Smith with a three-pointer at the 9:19 mark, assisted by Bre’Aria Cannon. Another three-pointer from Maher Dive at 7:57 extended the lead too 6-2, signaling the Bears’ intent to control the tempo.Despite a response from Albertus Magnus’ Adriana Debernardo, Smith maintained its momentum, with key contributions from Ella Sylvester and Mya Williams throughout the first quarter, closing with a 20-9 lead after free throws from Felicia Fongemia.

did you know?-Smith College is the oldest women’s college in the United States, founded in 1871. Its athletic programs have a long tradition of excellence.

Smith continued to build its advantage in the second quarter,demonstrating resilience on both offense and defense. Bre’Aria Cannon opened the quarter with a layup, while Maggie Fleming recorded a crucial block. Virginia Johnson punctuated the half with another three-pointer, assisted by Fleming, as the Bears outscored their opponents 18-9 to reach a halftime score of 38-18.

The third quarter saw Smith further extend its lead through strong play in the paint. Ella Sylvester and Uta Nakamura contributed key layups, while Virginia Johnson continued her impressive shooting performance. Despite efforts from Albertus Magnus’ Ava Johnson, the Bears maintained control, ending the quarter ahead 59-34 following a late layup by Kate Hackney.

Pro tip:-Dominating the boards, like Smith did with a 47-23 rebounding advantage, frequently enough leads to second-chance points and limits opponents’ possessions.

The final quarter solidified Smith’s decisive victory, with a 19-10 scoring run. Mya Williams and Felicia Fongemia led the charge, with Kate Hackney adding back-to-back layups to cement the home team’s dominance. Albertus Magnus struggled with shooting efficiency, managing onyl 3 of 15 field goals in the quarter, while Smith capitalized on its opportunities.

Key performers for Smith included Virginia Johnson, who led all scorers with 17 points, including three three-pointers, and added 8 rebounds. Bre’Aria Cannon contributed 8 points,3 assists,and 8 rebounds,while Felicia Fongemia added 9 points and went 4-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Reader question:-What adjustments do you think Albertus Magnus could have made to counter Smith’s rebounding dominance?

Looking ahead, Smith will return to Ainsworth Gymnasium tomorrow afternoon to face the University of Hartford in the second round.

Here’s a breakdown of the answers to your questions, based on the text:

Why did Smith win?
Smith won due to a dominant rebounding performance (47-23 differential), strong shooting (especially from Virginia Johnson), and consistent scoring throughout all four quarters. Their ability to control the tempo and capitalize on opportunities also contributed to their victory.