Box Score

CANTON, NY (February 20, 2009) – Although trailing by just three points late in the first half, the Vassar College women's basketball team failed to score and committed seven turnovers in the final five minutes of the first frame as St. Lawrence University pulled away to a 70-45 win in Liberty League play at Burkman Gym on Friday evening. Turnovers plagued Vassar throughout the game, as St. Lawrence scored nearly half its points (32) off of turnovers.

The Brewers fall to 3-21, 0-13 in the Liberty League. Vassar has one final chance to pick up a league win, on Saturday at Clarkson University at 2:00 p.m. The Brewers dropped their closest league game of the year to the Golden Knights, in a 54-50 loss at Vassar earlier in the season. The Saints improve to 16-7, 9-4 in the league and will host Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.

Although the Saints never trailed, their lead was tenuous in the first 15 minutes of play. St. Lawrence held no more than a four-point edge until a Lauren Sischo (Rodman, NY/South Jefferson) three-pointer gave the Saints an 18-12 lead with 6:43 left in the half. The Brewers quickly responded with a three-pointer of their own, courtesy of freshman Brittany Parks (Escondido, CA/Escondido). The Saints then extended their lead to seven on a free throw and three-pointer, but an Eleanor Albert (Clinton, NY/Clinton) jumper brought the Brewers back within five, 22-17, with 4:44 to play in the half. Following Albert's basket however, Vassar was unable to score again and committed seven turnovers, as St. Lawrence reeled off 12 unanswered points to take a comfortable 34-17 lead into the second half.

Vassar was unable to make any dent in the St. Lawrence lead in the final 20 minutes, and 15 second-half turnovers made a comeback difficult. For the game, the Saints forced 35 Vassar turnovers on 19 steals.

Parks led Vassar with 12 points and fellow freshman Kristyn Tempora (Marlboro, NJ/St. John Vianney) chipped in with nine points. Junior Emily Haeuser (South Portland, ME/South Portland) led a balanced rebounding effort with six boards, as the Brewers out-rebounded the saints, 38-26. Sophomores Brianna Brazell (Salt Lake City, UT/Waterford School), Jenica Law (Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn), and Carolyn Crampton (Reading, MA/Reading) added four rebounds apiece.

Sophomore Abby Stanton (Avon, NY/Avon) led all scorers with 18 points, and senior Katie Palmer (Bourne, MA/Falmouth Academy) chipped in with 16 points.