Troy, NY – Five players scored in double-figures and Sierra McDermed (San Antonio, TX) posted a double-double as the Vassar College Women's Basketball team pulled away for a 59-43 road Liberty League victory at RPI Friday evening.

Friday's triumph pushes Vassar to 13-1 overall on the season and to an unbeaten 7-0 in conference play, while RPI drops to 4-9 overall and 1-5 against league rivals.

First Half

• After falling behind 3-2 in the opening half minute on Friday, the Brewers ripped off the next 13 points, highlighted by four points from Tova Gelb (Sharon, CA), to surge in front by 10 points just 3:40 into the contest.
• Following a Naiya Kurnik (Fallbrook, CA) bucket at the 6:20 mark of the opening period, Vassar went nearly six minutes without scoring until a Kurnik three-pointer in the final minute of the quarter sent the Brewers to the second stanza leading 16-9.
• Vassar would be unable to pull away from the Engineers in the second period, seeing its advantage cut to just five points twice.
• A Kurnik jumper with 4:22 left before halftime pushed Vassar in front 26-15, its largest lead of the half.
• Vassar would again suffer an extended scoring drought, going without a field goal following a Gelb conversion with 2:46 left in the period.
• RPI used a Nicole Dapra triple in the final minute to slice the Vassar halftime advantage to 28-21.
• Vassar shot 41.7-percent in the second period and finished the first half converting at 31.4-percent overall, but just 15.4-percent from three-point range.
• RPI was held to 28.1-percent shooting prior to the break and went 3-for-8 from behind the arc.

Second Half

• Vassar came out of halftime with the first 11 points to open a 39-21 lead midway through the third period.
• Following the opening run, the Vassar lead would not dip under double-figures the rest of the way.
• The Brewers' lead grew to 21 points twice in the third period, once on a McDermed triple that pushed Vassar in front 44-23 and again when a Tash Thompson (Los Altos Hills, CA) fast break bucket with 3:05 left in the quarter that moved Vassar in front 46-35.
• The Brewers' advantage would stand at 16 points or better throughout the final stanza.
• Vassar grabbed a game-high 22-point lead, at 57-35, when Julia Harvey (Delmar, NY) converted a free-throw with 6:00 left to play.
• Vassar finished the final 20 minutes shooting 36.1-percent overall and continued to struggle from three-point range, going 1-for-9 after halftime from behind the arc.
• RPI converted at 39.3-percent after halftime and went 1-for-8 from long distance.

For The Brewers

• Gelb and Harvey each led the team with 12 points apiece with each grabbing five rebounds.
• Gelb closed the win with a pair of blocks and two steals.
• Harvey was one of three players with a team-high three assists and added two thefts.
• McDermed scored 11 points and led the team with a game-high 10 rebounds while adding two assists and a pair of blocks.
• Kurnik tallied 11 points, handed out three assists and led the team with three steals.
• Tawney reached double-figures for the first time in five games, totaling 11 points to go along with nine boards and three helpers.

For The Engineers

• Siena Smith scored nine points and finished a strong night with two blocks and three steals.
• Marley Mueller added nine points and a steal.
• Danielle Strauf led the team with six rebounds and five assists and added five points.

Game Statistics

• Vassar finished the night shooting 33.8-percent overall and went 3-for-22 from three-point range.
• RPI closed the game shooting 32.7-percent overall and finished up 4-for-16 from three-point range.
• Vassar outscored RPI from the free-throw line 8-3.
• The Brewers forced 22 turnovers leading to 21 points off of miscues.
• Vassar secured 18 offensive rebounds, posting a 13-4 edge in second chance scoring.
• Vassar held a 40-28 advantage in paint scoring.

What's Next

• Vassar closes the weekend with a trip to RIT Saturday afternoon.
• RPI plays host to Bard on Saturday.