BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Sophomore Anna Veltri (West Milford, N.J.) scored a game-high 26 points, including six big free throws in the final 48 seconds, to help the visiting Smith College Pioneers post a 65-58 upset of host Babson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball contest at Staake Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Smith improved to 8-8 overall and 2-4 in the conference, while the Beavers slipped to 10-7 overall and 3-2 in the NEWMAC.

Veltri's 26 points came on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, including a stellar 4-of-6 clip from three-point range, and an 8-of-10 mark from the free throw line. She was joined in double-figures sophomore Jessica Welk (Arlington, Wash.) with 13 points and junior Berit Shelde (Holstebro, Denmark) with 12. Junior Lisa Marie Vuono (Lindhurst, N.J.) added a solid all-around game with 10 rebounds and seven assists, while seniors Meredith Murelli (Litchfield, Conn.) and Courtney Parker (Ocean City, Md.) combined for 13 boards.

Babson received a team-leading sixth double-double of the season from first-year Kathleen King (Framingham, Mass.), who finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals. Sophomore Becky Bowman (Melrose, Mass.) added 16 points and six assists for the Beavers, sophomore Amanda Grammel (Leominster, Mass.) chipped in with seven boards, and sophomore Renay Hamilton (Lynn, Mass.) added four points, four caroms, and three steals.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, shooting a combined 32.2 percent in the stanza. Smith built the largest lead for either team after a three-pointer by senior Sarah Posnak (Miami, Fla.) made it 22-16 with 5:51 remaining, but the Beavers nearly doubled their scoring total in the final five and a half minutes to take a slight 30-29 edge into the break.

After the Beavers increased their lead to four, 35-31, just over a minute into the second half, the Pioneers erupted for a 17-4 run that resulted in the largest lead of the game for either team, 48-38, with 13:18 on the clock. Smith still led by as many as eight (54-46) after a Veltri three with 6:26 to go, but Babson responded with an 8-0 run over the next two and a half minutes to knot the score at 54-54.

Smith took the lead for good with 3:32 remaining, as Vuono found Parker underneath for a wide open lay-up on an inbounds play. A free throw by Vuono at the three minute mark pushed the Pioneer advantage to three, and a jumper by Shelde made it 59-54 with 2:12 left to play. Babson would get back to within three twice in the final two minutes, but Veltri answered with two free throws on both occasions to keep the Beavers at bay. The sophomore guard would convert all six of her attempts from the line in the final 48 seconds as Smith held on for the 65-48 win.