The Smith College basketball team tasted revenge in the NEWMAC Tournament semifinals.
After losing to No. 2 Springfield twice during the regular season, the third-seeded Pioneers prevailed in their third matchup Friday, 55-50 in Springfield, to reach the conference title game for the first time since 2014.
Smith, which tied the program record with its 23rd win, will host No. 4 MIT, which upset top-seeded Babson 78-72, at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Jessie Ruffner led the Pioneers (23-4) with 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds with two assists. Amelia Clairmon added 12 points.
Ashlyn Bohn (seven points, four rebounds) gave the Pioneers the lead for good on a layup with 5 minutes, 49 seconds left. Springfield led by four with 8:27 left.
Dashelle Gleissner contributed eight points with three assists and three steals. Elle Jo Whalen grabbed 11 rebounds.
Hampshire Regional graduate Katelyn Pickunka grabbed four rebounds in 19 minutes.
Smith jumped out to a 15-9 lead after the first quarter.
The Pioneers only shot 35.2 percent from the field but grabbed 11 offensive rebounds. They scored nine second chance points.