Box Score Box Score

HACKETSTOWN, NJ (December 8, 2010) – In a tightly contested game that came down to the final shot, the Vassar College women's basketball team fell a 3-point shot away from victory, falling to Centenary College, 75-73, Wednesday evening Folkner Family Gymnasium.

Down 75-73 with 12 seconds to play, Vassar advanced the ball to halfcourt with nine seconds remaining. An inbound pass went to junior guard Brittany Parks, who maintained possession on the left hash for five seconds before dishing off to freshman guard Cydni Matsuoka with four seconds remaining. With time expiring, Matsuoka's drove to her right and launched a 3-pointer from top of the key that was slightly off to the right, enabling the Cyclones to preserve the victory.

The loss drops Vassar to 3-5 on the season. The Brewers now head into semester break and will return to action on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 against Bard College at the AFC at 6:00 p.m. Centenary improves to 2-6 and next faces Penn State-Wilkes Barre on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

The Brewers fell behind by 10 points, 65-55, with 7:42 to play in the second half. Behind Parks and Matsuoka, who scored 13 of Vassar's final 18 points, the Brewers were able to tie the contest at 73-73 following a single free throw by Parks. In that spurt, Vassar got five points from freshman forward Hannah Senftleber on a layup inside, medium range jumper and free throw.

Following two free throws from Centenary junior guard Hannah Ally that gave the Cyclones a 75-73 lead with 1:03 to play, the Brewers had an opportunity to tie the game or take a lead on two field goal attempts on a single possession. A reverse layup attempt by Matsuoka with 53 seconds was strong off the glass, but the alert freshman corralled the ball in the corner and swung it to an open Senftleber, who saw her 3-point attempt miss to the right. Centenary briefly broke out in transition, called timeout instead and despite regrouping for its final play, turned the ball over with an errant cross court pass with 12 seconds remaining, setting up Vassar's last chance effort.

In a game that was tied seven times, Vassar took a 42-39 lead into intermission. The game turned in Centenary's favor due to a commanding 43-31 lead in rebounding and a 21-13 margin on the offensive end. A 15 rebound swing from the first half (Vassar held a 19-16 margin at intermission) enabled Centenary to tally 38 of its 75 points inside the paint and accrue 18 second chance points, 12 of which came in the second half.

Due to inside positioning, the Cyclones were able to push a 50-50 tie with 12:28 remaining into a 55-50 lead off consecutive baskets from junior guard Jen Vasta and then extend that margin to 65-55 off a 10-5 run in three minute span.

Parks, who scored 27 points in the game, brought the Brewers back into the contest after getting untracked midway through the second half and earning her fourth 20-plus point scoring game of the season. She added six assists, three blocks, and five steals in her 39-minute effort. Matsuoka tallied 17 points with six assists, tallying 12 of her points in the second half. Senfleber had 13 points and sophomore forward Natalie Allen had eight points. Senior guard Carolyn Crampton led the Brewers with seven rebounds.

Centenary saw two of its players have big efforts. Ally tallied a career-best 28 points and Vasta had 25 points. Senior forward Marissa DiStasio led all rebounders with 12 in the contest.