NORTHAMPTON - Ally Landau's layup at the buzzer lifted No. 8 Smith to a 52-50 victory over Amherst College in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament Saturday night in Ainsworth Gymnasium.

The Sweet 16 appearance will be the fourth in program history for the Pioneers overall as they improve to 28-2 on the year and a perfect 10-0 at home in NCAA games. Smith will face Bowdoin College in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, a match up of last season's Sectional Final. Sites and game times will be announced on Sunday. Amherst finishes their season with a record of 20-8. 

Landau recorded a double-double, posting 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two steals while Ella Sylvester chipped in 10 points and four boards. 

Virginia Johnson came off the bench to finish with nine points, shooting 3-of-7 from long distance and Hannah Martin and Jane Loo each added eight points.

Amherst was led by 11 points from Kori Barach. 

Trailing by nine points with under seven minutes to go, Annie McCarthy drilled a 3 to spur a 7-0 Mammoths run, which included a Laura Mendell layup and two more McCarthy points. Smith still led 46-44 as time ticked under four minutes. Landau made a layup at the 3:10 mark to snap a 6-minute Pioneers scoring drought. The score stayed put at 48-44 until the final minute.

Mendell split a pair at the line, making it a one-possession game again. A Smith turnover was the result of its next trip down, setting up Amherst with a chance to tie. The visitors missed an open look from three but grabbed the offensive rebound and banked home a layup to trail 48-47. 

Ella Sylvester was fouled and calmly knocked down two clutch free throws to bring Smith's lead back up to three. Pahl sank the three to setup the game-winner for Landau. 

Smith will face Bowdoin next Friday evening in the third round. The Sectional site and game time will be announced on Sunday. The Polar Bears (29-0) will be playing in their 17th Sweet Sixteen all-time. The other two teams in the sectional will be McMurry (21-5) and Gustavus Adolphus (26-1).

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.