PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The JWU (Providence) women's basketball team dropped a 78-60 contest to No. 3 Smith College Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at the Wildcat Center.

Sophomore Mia Cruz paced the Wildcats (3-2) with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go with six dimes and five boards. Sophomore Grace Jaffray dropped in 13 points and snared seven boards while classmate Isabella Suero scored 11 but struggled from the field (4-of-21 FG).

Senior Mikayla Caruso picked up eight points, six rebounds and three blocks as JWU was outrebounded 48-41. Sophomore and reigning Conference of New England (CNE) Player of the Week Brianne Foley was held to eight points while pulling down seven boards to go with two assists and two blocks.

JWU trailed by 10 at halftime after shooting 36 percent through the opening 20 minutes (11-of-31).  The Pioneers, meanwhile, knocked down 15 of their 31 attempts (48 pct.).

Smith pushed its lead to as many as 19 late in the third by outscoring the home team 17-10. The Wildcats climbed to within nine midway through the fourth following a triple from Cruz before a quick 6-0 spurt by the Pioneers pushed their lead back to 15 with three minutes to go.

The Wildcats finished the night shooting 30 percent – including 9-of-41 from downtown. Smith canned 28-of-28 from the charity stripe (69 percent).