Poly's Jasmine Smith is a freshman point guard, but she played like someone a lot older Friday night.

Smith made several key plays in the fourth quarter, scoring all seven of her points and helping No. 11 Poly hold off a late rally from No. 5 Western for a 50-42 victory in a Baltimore City game.

Smith ran the Poly offense smoothly throughout the game, which was played before a raucous overflow crowd at Western. But it's what she did in those final minutes that made the difference.

She made her only basket of the night to give Poly (5-4, 4-0) a 41-33 lead with 5:33 left. Smith then came up big at the free-throw line. She converted two one-and-ones and made five of six overall in the final 2:19.

"Point guards are supposed to be the ones you can rely on to go to the free-throw line to put the game away," Smith said. "It feels really good. We just wanted it in the end."

Western had pulled to within 42-40, but Smith also helped the Engineers' cause with a crucial rebound and steal on two separate possessions.

"She continues to amaze me," said Poly coach Kendall Peace-Able. "We haven't been together long, but it's going to be a happy marriage."

Blair Harding led Poly with 11 points, including a pair of key three-pointers in the second half. The second one gave the Engineers a 39-31 lead with 7:13 left.

The Doves (6-4, 4-1) hit a cold stretch, as they scored two baskets in just under 16 minutes from late in the second quarter until late in the fourth.

Western rallied, however, as Tenicia Spence (16 points) made a couple of tough scoop shots in the final 70 seconds, but the Doves couldn't get all the way back.

Western struggled from the start, as Poly took charge with a tough full-court press. The Engineers jumped out to a 13-3 lead as Western had trouble getting the ball upcourt and committed 13 first-half turnovers.

The Doves started rolling in the second quarter and rallied for a 25-24 halftime lead. But Western couldn't overcome a 15-for-30 effort at the line and long dry spells — as well as the play of Smith and friends in the final minutes.

"They came to play," said Western coach Tiffany Silver. "They closed the game."

Poly 50, Western 42

P-Lee 3, Fleet 6, Dean 9, Crokett 6, Harding 11, Smith 7, Pendleton 3, Pitts 5. Totals: 19 10-18 50.

W- Murray 6, Spence 16, Smoot 5, Booth 1, McKnight 5, Carter 7, Jackson 2. Totals: 12 15-30. Half: W, 25-24