Box Score

SCHENECTADY, NY (February 12, 2010) – After picking up the first win in program history over Union College in January, the Vassar College women's basketball team proved the victory was no fluke, with a convincing 65-46 Liberty League win over Union on Friday evening at the Viniar Athletic Center.

The Brewers, who beat Union by 13 points in January, improve to 8-12, 4-6 in the Liberty League, the most overall wins for Vassar since 2001-02, and one win away from matching the program's most ever league wins. Vassar leapfrogs Union in the league standings and is now in fifth place, two wins out of a playoff position. The Brewers play at league-leading 10-1 Skidmore College tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., a team Vassar dropped a tight 59-55 overtime victory to earlier in the season. The Dutchwomen fall to 6-14, 4-7 and host Rensselaer tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.

Leading by just five to start the second half, Vassar quickly took control of the game, going on an 11-2 run to take a 42-26 lead with 14:10 to play off a jumper from junior Carolyn Crampton. Lauren Hennessey gave Union its first field goal of the half with 13:40 to play, but the Brewers continued to dominate while the Dutchwomen offense remained stagnant, scoring just six points in the opening ten minutes of the half.

Although Union began to find its offensive rhythm in the second part of the half, Vassar's offense did not cool off either, and the Dutchwomen drew no closer than 12, 52-40, with 4:55 left to play. Instantly squashing any hope of a comeback, Vassar senior Emily Haeuser answered on the other end, and following a missed Union free throw, sophomore Kristyn Tempora drained a three-pointer to boost the Vassar lead to 57-40 with four minutes remaining. The Brewers maintained at least a 13-point edge for the remainder of the game.

The Brewers, who trailed only once, at 3-2, jumped out to an early 13-3 lead 6:20 into the game. Four different Vassar players contributed to the early lead, paced by six points from Haeuser. It was the Brewers' largest lead of the half, as the Dutchwomen went on a 7-1 run of their own to draw within four with 11:44 remaining in the half. Consecutive baskets from freshman Olivia Westbrook-Gold and Haeuser allowed the Brewers to regain some distance, and Union never drew closer than four as Vassar took a 29-24 lead into halftime. Haeuser was the difference in the first half, scoring 11 points to go with seven rebounds.

Haeuser, who has scored at least 14 points in seven out of her last eight games, led the Brewers to the win with a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double, her ninth double-double of the season. Haeuser shot 9-for-11 from the field, 5-for-7 from the line, and even drained her only three-point attempt, just the third career three-pointer for the six-foot forward. Tempora added 15 points, three assists, and two blocks, scoring 12 second half points on a 3-for-4 effort from behind the arc. Sophomore Brittany Parks chipped in with 11 points and three assists, while freshman Tori Chaltain added five points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Union was led by 10 points and nine rebounds from Lauren McCormick, followed by nine points and 10 rebounds from Rachel Titcomb.