POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 19, 2014) – Junior guard Caitlin Drakeley (Woodbury, CT/Nonnewaug) posted game-bests of 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Vassar College women's basketball team nipped New Paltz 57-56 for its first win of the season Wednesday evening in non-conference action.
The Brewers (1-2) picked up their second win over the Hawks (1-2) in as many seasons, while Drakeley also netted a double-double against NP last season. The double-double was the 10th of the junior guard's career, while the 21 points in the pairing tied for the most in a double-double in her career.
Vassar College struggled to hang onto the ball on night, as the full court pressure from New Paltz forced the young Brewer ball handlers into 31 turnovers. Despite the giveaways, Vassar was able to shoot 50.0 percent (14-28) in the first half, taking a 35-29 lead into intermission, following a layup by senior Allyson Pemberton (Weston, MA/Weston) with five seconds to go in the half.
Drakeley led all first-half scorers with 11 points, while Pemberton added 10 points on four-of-six shooting. The six points by Colleen Ames in the first half paced new Paltz, but Vassar held a solid 25-15 lead on the glass going into the break.
After the intermission, the Brewers used an opening 10-2 run over the first seven minutes of the period to take a 45-21 lead at 13:01 after a jumper from Drakeley. The Hawks fought back, using a 16-2 run to take their first lead of the second half at 48-41 with 4:21 to play in regulation. VC jumped back on time seconds later on a layup by sophomore Zoe Walker (Seattle, WA/Lakeside School).
The Brewer defense held New Paltz without a field goal starting at 5:24 and lasting the next 5:13 of game time. Over that time, the Brewer built a five-point lead, but a layup by Goldie Harrison trimmed the lead to three with just 11 seconds to play. Drakeley hit two free throws, but Harrison answered with a layup, followed by a steal and layup by Kit Small with a second to play.
After a timeout, the Brewers got the ball in safely, securing their first win of the season. Drakeley connected on 8-of-18 on the night, dishing out four assists as well to go with her 10 boards, while Pemberton finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four thefts. Junior Colleen O'Connell (Maywood, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) added 10 points and nine boards in 34 minutes.
Freshman Ariella Rosenthal (Mill Valley, CA/Mill Valley) added six points and seven rebounds, as Vassar won the battle on the glass 53-34. The Brewers shot 37.9 percent (22-58) for the night, and connected on 13-of-15 (86.7 percent) from the line. One thing Vassar didn't do was hit a three-pointer, the first time in 35 games VC didn't nail a shot from behind the arc.
New Paltz got a team-best 11 points from Small, while Ames and Courtney Irby each had eight points apiece. Norvonee Hall added a team-best eight caroms for NP, which shot 31.3 percent from the floor. Goldie Harrison also posted seven points, four boards, four assists and five steals for the Hawks.
Vassar is back in action this Friday evening at St. Joseph's College of Long Island at 7 p.m. for more non-conference play from Patchogue, NY.
--VASSAR--