POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 18, 2013) – The Vassar College women's basketball team will look to continue its solid early season play this Thursday, as the squad will take the trip across the Mid-Hudson Bridge for a tussle with New Paltz at 8 p.m. in the Hawk Center. The Brewers are riding high after winning the Vassar Tip Off Tournament this past weekend, defeating Wellesley College 55-41 Friday and Brooklyn College 75-42 Saturday in the title game.
 
Vassar Career Game Highs | Vassar 2013-14 Statistics

Game Details
Opponent: at SUNY New Paltz (0-2/0-0 SUNYAC)
Site: New Paltz, NY
Facility: Hawk Center (1,800)
Date: November 21, 2013
Time: 8 p.m.
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What To Look For
Vassar has started slow in both of its games this far this season, failing to shoot the ball well in the opening stanza in each of the first two starts. Luckily, the Brewers' defensive pressure in the second half against both Wellesley and Brooklyn was nothing short of remarkable. So far this season, VC has allowed just 17 points in both contests after halftime, outscoring its opponents in the second half by a margin of 39 points. If Vassar can continue that, it should make for a very exciting season in Poughkeepsie.
 
A Look At The Hawks
New Paltz headed about as far away as it possibly could have to start the season, traveling the 2,386 miles, as the crow flies, to College of Redlands this past weekend. Head coach Jamie Seward's troops did not fare as well as he would have liked, falling to Chapman University 81-72 Friday before losing to host Redlands 63-40 Saturday. Looking at the schedule for New Paltz, and you'll see that Thursday night's tilt with the Brewers if one of only two games in the Hawk Center before the New Year compared to seven road trips.
 
New Paltz is averaging 56 points per game over its first couple of contests, shooting 33.9 percent from the floor. Freshman Courtney Irby is averaging a double-double to start the season, scoring 11.5 points to go with 12 rebounds a game. Kit Small, another freshman, scored 18 points against Chapman, and sophomore Goldie Harrison as poured in 10.5 points per game for the Hawks. New Paltz has not played many people during its games, as only seven players are averaging over 10 minutes per game. Seward is in his eighth year at New Paltz, posting a 129-63 record over his tenure.
 
Against New Paltz All-Time
The Brewers have not played the Hawks since the 2007-08 season, which saw the Hawks earn a 62-47 win in the Athletic and Fitness Center on Vassar's campus. All-time against New Paltz, the Brewers are 3-13 with their last victory against the Hawks coming back in the 1998-99 season. New Paltz has won the last four outings against Vassar.
 
Cyd Vicious
Brewer senior guard Cydni Matsuoka (Sacramento, CA/John F. Kennedy) has picked up right where she left off in 2012-13. The 2012-13 Liberty League Player of the Year is averaging over seven assists per game to go with 15 points per night.
 
Hannah Montana
Senior forward Hannah Senftleber (Burlington, VT/Burlington) has been money so far, as she was named the Vassar Tip Off Tournament MVP after averaging 12 points and eight boards over the weekend.
 
Ice-Berg
Junior Nyah Berg (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) shook off a poor shooting performance against Wellesley to make five of her seven shots in a blowout win over Brooklyn Saturday.
 
Why Thank You
The Brewers passing this season thus far has been stellar, posting more assists than turnovers. Matsuoka paces VC with 15 helpers, while Berg and Caitlin Drakeley (Woodbury, CT/Nonnewaug) each have added to the cause. The 16 assists per game lead the conference.
 
Not Up In Here
Vassar comes into this week's contests with New Paltz as the league's leader in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 41.5 points per game, 11.5 points lower than RPI and its 53 points per night.
 
Deep Freeze
Vassar has been one of the best three-point shooting teams in the Liberty League over the past few years, but so far, that isn't showing through. VC is last in the league in three-point percentage currently, making just 24 percent from downtown.
 
Making The Most
Senftleber has taken just 15 shots this season thus far, but the senior forward has made the most of her opportunities, making 10 field goals while leading the league in field goal percentage with a .667 clip.
 
Good Start
Vassar was one of only two teams in the Liberty League, joining Union College, to start the season with two consecutive wins.
 
Walker, Seattle Rebounder
Vassar lone freshman Zoe Walker (Seattle, WA/Lakeside School) has made an immediate impact defensively and on the glass. Walker is eighth in the Liberty League in rebounding, gathering eight misses per night currently. She also has 12 defensive caroms, fourth-most in the league.  
 
Can't Hold Her Down
Matsuoka has scored in double-digits in 26 of her last 28 games, dating back to last year's season opener. The only two times she didn't post double were at William Smith 1/26/13 and at Bard College 1/18/13. She also has scored 10 or more points in every home game since 1/17/2012, a span of 20 contents.
 
Foreman Frenzy
Junior Michelle Foreman (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) scored a career-best 11 points Saturday against Brooklyn, going 5-8 from the field. She has 15 points already this year, which matches her total from the entire season in 2012-13.
 
Up Next
The Brewers will head to Wesleyan University Tuesday, November 26 at 7 p.m. before taking eight days off over the Thanksgiving holiday.