14th-ranked Smith basketball team advances to first National Championship game with a 61-54 overtime victory over No. 6 Wartburg College, led by Jessie Ruffner and Ally Yamada.

By the Numbers
  • Yamada finished with 24 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, hitting six 3-pointers in the second half and overtime.
  • Ruffner contributed 22 points and 14 rebounds, achieving her 13th double-double of the year.
  • Smith shot 35% from the field, 33.3% from behind the arc, and 84.6% from the free-throw line.
  • Wartburg scored 33.9% from the floor, 35.3% from 3-point range, and 76.9% from the free-throw line.
State of Play
  • Smith won its 16th consecutive game and stands at 30-3 on the season.
  • Up next, Smith will face No. 1 NYU in the National Championship game on March 16 at 7:00 pm at the Capital Center Performance Arena.
Bottom Line

Smith's historic win propels them to the National Championship game, showcasing impressive performances by Ruffner and Yamada and setting the stage for a showdown against top-seeded NYU.