Box Score Box Score

CANTON, NY (February 25, 2011) – For the first time since joining the Liberty League in the 2000 season, the Vassar College women's basketball team will play for the league championship. The No. 4 seeded Brewers used a 13-0 run in the opening minutes of the first half and a stifling man-to-man defense to limit No. 1 seed St. Lawrence to 30 percent shooting from the floor to upset the Saints, 57-47, Friday evening at Burkman Gymnasium.

The Brewers (15-11) will face No. 2  William Smith (16-11), a 76-64 winner over No. 3 Union, for the Liberty League Championship on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Though the Saints were able to close a game-long Brewers lead to 31-29 with 15:24 to play in the contest, Vassar led the semifinal contest from start-to-finish, delivering the knockout blow with a 13-0 run within the first six minutes of the contest to shake loose from a 5-5 tie and surge ahead 18-5. It was no surprise that freshman guard Cydni Matsuoka, the Liberty League Rookie of the Year, was the catalyst. She scored 10 of Vassar's first 15 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field, an offensive outburst that set the tone for the contest.

The first half was low scoring, ostensibly because a tight Vassar defense held St. Lawrence to 25 percent shooting (8-of-32) from the field and 1-of-10 from 3-point range. The Brewers also controlled both backboards, and a frustrated St. Lawrence team was limited to one-shot opportunities. Late in the half, however, the Saints used a 13-5 run and a 4:10 minute scoring drought by the Brewers to close within 23-18. Two free throws from junior guard Brittany Parks provided Vassar with a 25-18 halftime lead.

While Matsuoka cooled off with a scoreless second half, it was Parks, the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, and All-Rookie Team selection forward Hannah Senftleber that picked up the offensive chores. That duo combined for 22 of Vassar's 34 points. Parks scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half, Senftleber tallied 10 of her 14 points. The big contributor, however, was sophomore forward Natalie Allen, who scored all 10 of her points in the final 20 minutes, several buckets coming late in the game and at crucial times when St. Lawrence was fighting its way back into the contest.

St. Lawrence went on a 11-4 run to start the second half, and after junior guard Casey Capello connected on a layup with 15:24 to play, St. Lawrence came within two points at 31-29. Vassar answered with a layup from Allen, two consecutive from Parks and two free throws from Senftleber for eight straight points and a 39-29 lead with 12:14 to play.

The Brewers pushed that lead to 46-31 with 9:51 to play when Senftleber connected on a nifty layup down low and a technical foul on St. Lawrence freshman forward Kelly Legg resulted in three straight free throws from Parks. Senftleber scored again on a short jumper and the Brewers had built the largest lead of the game at 15 points.

Capello single-handedly brought the Saints back into the game, converting on three straight baskets to cut the Vassar lead to 49-42 with 6:44 to play. The Brewers would not be denied. Allen answered with a momentum-stopping layup, Parks connected on two jumpers in the lane, and Allen converted down low again for a 57-47 Vassar lead with 2:06 to play.

Parks finished with 16 points, Senftleber 14 points. Both players had seven rebounds each. Allen turned in a 10 point, five rebound game and Matsuoka finished with 10 points, possibly the most important five baskets of the season.

St. Lawrence's Capello led all players with 21 points. Legg had 15 points and nine rebounds.