Box Score Box Score

TROY, NY (February 15, 2011) – Freshman guard Cydni Matsuoka picked the perfect time to produce a blistering 29 point performance. In a must-win Liberty League contest on Tuesday evening against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Matsuoka connected on seven of Vassar's 11 three-pointers to lead the Brewers to a 74-71 overtime victory at East Campus Arena.

The Brewers made three of those 11 three-pointers in overtime to secure the victory. The RPI victory also secured Vassar's first winning season since the 2000-01 team went 15-10. Vassar's 7th Liberty League victory also improved on the most league wins in school history, surpassing the 2000-01 team that won five games.

The Brewers raise their 2010-11 record to 13-10, 7-5 and are now in a fourth place tie with Skidmore in Liberty League standings. The top four teams qualify for the Liberty League Championships. Vassar travels to Hamilton and William Smith this Friday and Saturday for the final regular season league games of the season. The Engineers fall to 10-13, 6-6 and are now in sixth place in the league. RPI faces William Smith and Hamilton on Friday and Saturday as well.

Matsuoka made 10 of 18 shots, including 7 of 14 three-pointers, for her game-high 29 points. She made five three-pointers and a conventional three-point play in the first half for 18 points in the opening frame. Matsuoka, who also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 43 minutes, had a three-pointer and a foul shot in overtime to help seal Vassar's victory.

As a team the Brewers shot a blistering 51.6 percent (16 for 31) from the field in the first half for a 41-35 advantage at the break. RPI made 36.8 percent (15 for 41) of its shots, led by junior Hillary McKinley, who had 12 points (6 for 10 shooting) with eight rebounds.

The homestanding Engineers needed more than the first three quarters of the second half to erase their deficit – which reached as many as 10 points – taking the lead, 56-55, on a Linda Larsen four-point play with 3:10 remaining. Both teams had the ball with the score tied 59-59 but RPI turned it over with four seconds left and Matsuoka's long three-point attempt at the buzzer was no good.

Vassar took a four-point lead in overtime but the Engineers fought back to tie the score at 66-66 before the Brewers scored eight of the next 13 points for the victory.

Active in the extra session for Vassar, in addition to Matsuoka, were freshman forward Hannah Senftleber who had six points, a rebound and a steal, and senior guard Carolyn Crampton, who had three points, two assists and a rebound. McKinley had five points in overtime for Rensselaer, while Larsen had four.

Junior guard Brittany Parks scored 15 points for Vassar and sophomore forward Natalie Allen, who scored a career-high 10 points and added seven rebounds.

For RPI, McKinley finished with a team-high 18 points and a game-best 14 rebounds with two assists, two steals and a pair of blocks. Larsen scored 17 points with two assists and a steal.