TROY, N.Y. – The Vassar College women's basketball team made 11 three-pointers, including three in overtime, to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 74-71, in a Liberty League contest at the East Campus Arena. The Brewers, who were led by freshman guard Cydni Matsuoka's 29 points, improve to 13-10 overall and 7-5 in the league. The Engineers fall to 10-13 and 6-6.

With the victory Vassar moves into a fourth place tie in the league standings with two games remaining. RPI is now in sixth place. The top four teams in the league qualify for the post-season tournament.

Matsuoka (Sacramento, CA/John F. Kennedy) made 10 of 18 shots, including 7 of 14 three-pointers, for her game-high 29 points. She made five three-pointers and a conventional three-point play in the first half for 18 points in the opening frame. Matsuoka, who also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 43 minutes, had a three-pointer and a foul shot in overtime to help seal the victory.

As a team the Brewers shot a blistering 51.6% (16 for 31) from the field in the first half for a 41-35 advantage at the break. RPI made 36.8% (15 for 41) of its shots, led by junior Hillary McKinley (Quinebaug, CT/Tourtellotte Memorial), who had 12 points (6 for 10 shooting) with eight rebounds.

The homestanding Engineers needed more than the first three quarters of the second half to erase their deficit – which reached as many as 10 points – taking the lead, 56-55, on a Linda Larsen (Kobenavn V., Denmark/Himmelev) four-point play with 3:10 remaining. Both teams had the ball with the score tied 59-59 but RPI turned it over with four seconds left and Matsuoka's long three-point attempt at the buzzer was no good.

Vassar took a four-point lead in overtime but the Engineers fought back to tie the score at 66-66 before the Brewers scored eight of the next 13 points for the victory.

Active in the extra session for the visitors, in addition to Matsuoka, were freshman forward Hannah Senftleber (Burlington, VT/Burlington), who had six points, a rebound and a steal, and senior guard Carolyn Crampton (Reading, MA/Reading), who had three points, two assists and a rebound. McKinley had five points in overtime for Rensselaer, while Larsen had four.

McKinley finished with a team-high 18 points and a game-best 14 rebounds with two assists, two steals and a pair of blocks. Larsen scored 17 points with two assists and a steal.

For Vassar, Senftleber had 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal and Crampton scored three points with team-highs of nine rebounds and six assists. Brittany Parks (Escondido, CA/Escondido) chipped in with 15 points and Natalie Allen (Lenox, MA/Lenox Memorial) scored 10 points.

The Brewers and Engineers both return to action this weekend when they close out the regular season with Liberty League road games. Vassar plays at Hamilton and William Smith on Friday (6pm) and Saturday (2pm), while RPI plays the same two teams but on opposite days.