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SCHENECTADY, NY (January 29, 2011) – After being held to her lowest scoring output of the season on Friday night against Skidmore College, junior guard Brittany Parks hoisted the Vassar College women's basketball team on her back, scored 25 points – 16 of those in a game altering first half – and led the Brewers to a 59-53 victory over Union College on Saturday afternoon at the Viniar Athletic Center.

In what may be considered the biggest victory of the season following a tough loss to Skidmore Friday night, the Brewers jumped right back into the thick of the Liberty League playoff picture by defeating a Union team that had a one-game lead in league standings. After the victory, one that saw the Brewers build a 10-point halftime lead, Vassar and Union are now tied atop the league with 5-2 records. The packed standings have four teams – RPI, St. Lawrence, Skidmore and William Smith – all with 4-3 league records.

Next Friday and Saturday, Vassar (11-7, 5-2) begins the second half of league play with away contests at St. Lawrence and Clarkson, two teams the Brewers defeated to start Liberty League play. Union (10-5, 5-2) will host William Smith and Hamilton next weekend.

Parks and freshman guard Cydni Matsuoka (18 points) scored 43 of Vassar's 59 points, making 16 of the teams 23 field goals and six of eight 3-pointers. However, after rolling into intermission leading 32-22, the Brewers were able to control the entire second half thanks to an offensive push from freshman forward Hannah Senftleber who scored five of Vassar's first seven points in the opening three minutes to help build a 39-27 lead. Senfleber scored all of her seven points in the second half, including a big 3-pointer just 1:37 into play that set the tone.

In the second half, Union got within five points, but that was all. A jump shot from Brittney Kenney cut the Vassar lead to 40-35 with 13:55 to play, but Parks and Matsuoka split the scoring duties over the next 13 minutes, tallying all but two of Vassar's points for the remainder of the game.

A 3-pointer from Matsuoka with 7:41 to play lifted Vassar into a 54-43 lead. The Dutchwomen did outscore Vassar 10-5 from that point, but Matsuoka drained another huge 3-pointer with 4:31 to play for a 59-48 lead. Although they were the last points Vassar would score in the contest, Union missed seven of its last eight shot in its comeback attempt.

The game was tied only once, 3-3, at the 17:12 mark. From that point, the Brewers led the entire game. When Parks connected on a jumper at 11:20 into the first half, Vassar took a 15-6 lead and kept the offensive pressure on the Dutchwomen by connecting on 50 percent of its shots from the field (14-28). The Brewers built a 13-point margin, 26-13, with 3:55 to play following a slashing drive to the basket by sophomore forward Natalie Allen and went into halftime with a 32-22 lead thanks to a jumper from Matsuoka.

Parks' 25 points was her 16th double figures scoring effort of the season. Matsuoka's 18 points was her 13th straight game scoring double figures and her 16th of the season. Matsuoka (seven rebounds) and Parks (six rebounds) led the Brewers in that category. Allen also had six boards.

Union placed two players in double figures. Marissa Ray had 15 points and Lauren McCormick added 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.