Box Score

GENEVA, NY (January 17, 2009) – A 10-2 run by William Smith in the final four minutes of the first half proved to be the difference as the Vassar College women's basketball team dropped a 72-56 Liberty League matchup on Saturday at Bristol Gym. For the third game in the row, the trio of junior Emily Haeuser (South Portland, ME/South Portland), and freshmen Brittany Parks (Escondido, CA/Escondido) and Kristyn Tempora (Marlboro, NJ/St. John Vianney) led Vassar with double-digit scoring efforts.

The Brewers fall to 2-9, 0-2 in the Liberty League. Vassar will play its home league opener on Tuesday against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Herons improve to 8-6, 2-1 in the league.

Although the Herons held a 24-16 advantage with 7:25 to play in the first half, the Brewers battled back, using a 13-4 run to take a 29-28 lead with 4:02 remaining in the half. During the run, five different Brewers chipped in, with Parks, Tempora, Haeuser, and sophomores Carolyn Crampton (Reading, MA/Reading) and Jenica Law (Palo Alto, CA/Palo Alto) all contributing points. Parks capped the run with a three-pointer, giving Vassar its first lead since an early 5-4 score less than three minutes into the game.

However, William Smith quickly responded, dominating play for the final four minutes of the half. In that time, the Herons went on a 10-2 run and forced seven Vassar turnovers, allowing William Smith to take a 41-31 lead into the locker room. Law's jumper during the Heron run represented Vassar's only field goal attempt for four minutes.

The Herons managed to maintain their double-digit lead for the remainder of the game, stretching it to as much as 20 points, 57-37, with 10:39 to play. Following that, Vassar cut the Heron lead to 12, on two Crampton free throws with 8:34 on the clock, but it was as close as the Brewers would come.

Tempora led the Brewers in the scoring column for the second straight game, netting 14 points. Haeuser recorded her fourth consecutive double-double, her sixth of the season, with 12 points and ten rebounds, while Parks added 11 points and four assists. In one of their most balanced scoring attacks of the years, the Brewers also saw Law chip in with eight points and six rebounds, while Crampton added seven points, and for the second straight game, eight rebounds.

Senior guard Latasha Coney (Lyons, NY/Lyons) led all scorers with 23 points, seven steals and a team-high nine rebounds, while Erin Cunningham (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) and Kristen Kush (Fulton, NY/Fulton) chipped in nine points apiece for William Smith.

Turnovers and free throw shooting hobbled the Brewers, as Vassar committed 32 turnovers and shot 42.9 percent (12-28) from the line. Though the Herons did not gain much ground at the line, shooting 64.3 percent (18-28), they scored 29 points off turnovers, compared to the Brewers' eight points.