POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 15, 2013) – The Vassar College women's basketball team held Wellesley College to just 22 percent shooting and 17 points in the second half, opening up a one-point halftime lead, earning a 55-41 win in the Vassar College Tip Off Tournament Friday evening.
The Brewers did not shoot particularly well in the first half, but still forced the Blue (0-1) into 12 turnovers, keeping WC within striking distance. With Wellesley leading 24-20, the Brewers (1-0) finished the first half with a 5-0 run capped by a Rose Serafini (Milton, Ontario, Canada/Milton District) layup to lead by one entering intermission.
Senior Cydni Matsuoka (Sacramento, CA/John F. Kennedy) led all first-half scorers, posting nine points to go with five assists, while Caitlyn Drakeley (Woodbury, CT/Nonnewaug) added seven points and five boards.
In the second half, the Brewers would open the half on an 8-0 run, as Vassar held Wellesley without a point in the second stanza during the first 8:44 of the period. The Brewer lead would balloon to as much as 18 points with 3:15 to play on a jumper from Matsuoka, as VC moved into tomorrow's title game of the tournament.
Drakeley chalked up her first career double-double Friday evening, as she totaled game-highs of 14 points and 11 boards. Matsuoka finished with 11 points and a game-high nine helpers, and Hannah Senftleber (Burlington, VT/Burlington) scored 10 points despite being in foul trouble much of the game.
Freshman Zoe Walker (Seattle, WA/Lakeside School) had a solid collegiate debut, hitting two of her three shots for four points while adding eight rebounds and three blocks, and Nyah Berg (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) had six points as well for Vassar.
The Brewers finished the night 24-58 (41.1 percent) from the floor, making just one of their 11 shots from downtown. The squad also made just 6-13 (46.2 percent) from the charity stripe. VC did hold a strong edge on the glass, pulling in 43 caroms to just the 30 from Wellesley.
WC was led by the 11 points and six boards from Leslie Leong, and teammates Chelsi Scott, Morgyne Weaver and Meghan Sargent all scored eight points. Wellesley shot 30.6 percent from the field (15-49), going two-of-seven from behind the arc.
The Brewers will now take on Brooklyn College Saturday at 4 p.m. in the VC Tip Off Championship, as the Bulldogs defeated Plymouth State University, 67-40, in the nightcap. Wellesley and Plymouth State are set to tip off at 2 p.m. in the consolation contest.
--VASSAR--