POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 27, 2014) – The Vassar College women's hoopsters enter this light one-game week riding a four-game win streak, having knocked off Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University this past weekend. Vassar sits one game out of the top spot in the Liberty League, trailing league leader William Smith College and its 7-0 conference record. VC will take the two-hour trip north Tuesday evening to battle Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 6 p.m. in the Brewer's only game this week.

Game Details
Opponent: at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (4-12, 2-5 Liberty League)           
(RPI Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Troy, NY
Facility:  East Campus Arena – Performance Gymnasium (1,200)
Date: January 28, 2014
Time: 6 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

What To Look For
The Brewers match-up with the Engineers looks to be an intriguing one, as RPI has played a very difficult schedule so far this season. RPI averages the fewest rebounds per game this season, pulling in just 39.4 per game, while Vassar leads the league in rebounding defense allowing just 36.4 a night. Also, in stark contrasts of playing styles, the Brewers are atop the scoring defense category this season, surrendering just 57.2 points per game. RPI ranks last in points per game defense, allowing nearly 70 a game.

A Look At The Engineers (4-12, 2-4 LL)
Rensselaer enters this this busy three-game week looking to snap a two-game slide, as it dropped conference affairs to Rochester Institute of Technology (83-58) and William Smith (71-67). The Engineers have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride of late, shooting over 40 percent one game, only to come back and fire under 30 percent the next time out. RPI put a scare into William Smith Saturday, leading at the half to the Liberty League leader, shooting 43.8 percent on the game. This year, the Engineers strengths have been turnover margin, as they are one of only three teams within the conference with a positive turnover margin.

Individually, the Engineers have been led by the 16.4 points per game by Ashley Clough, which ranks her third in scoring in the Liberty League. Clough also leads RPI in rebounding; pulling in 7.2 boards per game, and leads the team in threes made as well. Amanda Lynch joins Clough as the only two players to start all 16 games and score in double figures per game, as she nets 13.5 points a night. Lynch grabs 6.9 caroms an evening, and fourth in the League in field goal percentage, making 48.0 percent of her attempts. Ellen Boucher and Courtney Reynolds each score around six points a game for Rensselaer.

Projecting Starting Five: F – Ashley Clough (16.4), F – Amanda Lynch (13.5 PPG), G – Courtney Reynolds (6.2), G – Jackie Sortor (4.0), G – Kelly Piotrowski (3.9).

Against RPI All-Time
The Engineers hold a 25-9 record against the Brewers all-time, though Vassar has won the past three meetings between the two squads. Rensselaer posted a 16-game win streak, which stretched from 2002 to 2010. In the series, Vassar has only won twice in Troy, one of which was in the Liberty League playoffs in 2012.

Previous Box Scores – (Feb. 5, 2013) – (Jan. 15, 2013) – (Feb. 22, 2012)

Bombs Away
The Brewers come into this game second in the League in three-point percentage with 35.3%, but seventh in triples made with 3.8 per game. Senior guard Cydni Matsuoka (Sacramento, CA/ John F. Kennedy) has made almost half of all 85 of her three-point attempts. She from ranks third in country with a 49.8% three-point shooting percentage.
 
Ice In Their Veins
Vassar has shot 78.9% from the free-throw line as a team to rank fifth in the country in free throw percentage. Senior forward Hannah Senftleber (Burlington, VT/ Burlington) has shot 92.9% from the free throw line, good enough to rank seventh in the country in free-throw percentage.
 
On The Glass
Hannah Senftleber leads the team with an average of 9.7 rebounds per game. She gets support from everyone in the line-up, including sophomore Rose Serafini (Milton, ON, CAN/ Milton District) who brought down 10 rebounds against St. Lawrence and has averaged seven rebounds per game over the past four contests.
 
Hands Off
Vassar College comes into this week as the 10^th best team in terms of fouling its opponents. VC picks up just 13.8 fouls per game, which leads the Liberty League.
 
Brew Crew
The Brew Crew has brought the noise for their women's basketball squad. So far this season Vassar has the highest game attendance average of any school in the League.
 
Top Trio
Vassar College has the league's top scoring trio, as Cydni Matsuoka, Hannah Senftleber and sophomore Caitlin Drakeley (Woodbury, CT/Nonnewaug) combine to score 42.7 points per game. The next closest is Courtney Tennant, Ashlynn Palmitesso and Kayla Wheeler of RIT with 40.7 per game.
 
What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas
The Brewers dropped both games they played while in Las Vegas, falling to No. 3 Amherst College and Gwynedd Mercy University. Since then, VC is 7-1, allowing just one opponent over 65 points.
 
Up Next
The Brewers are off for seven days before heading north to take on the Raptors of Bard College (1-14, 0-6) in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY February 4 at 6 p.m. in Liberty League play. RPI will host Union College (10-4, 2-3) Friday and Skidmore College (6-10, 1-6) Saturday this weekend.