POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 6, 2014) – The Vassar College women's basketball team returns to the floor after suffering pair of losses at the Las Vegas Hoopla Tournament last week. The slate does not get any easier, as VC will take on Hartwick College in its final non-conference game before heading out on the road to battle Skidmore College and Union College in the first two league games of the year for head coach Candice Brown and her troops.

Game Details
Opponent: vs. Hartwick College (8-2/2-0 Empire 8) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility:  Athletics and Fitness Center (1,200)
Date: January 7, 2014
Time: 6 p.m.
Live Video
Live Stats

Game Details
Opponent: at Skidmore College (5-4/0-0 Liberty) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Saratoga Springs, NY
Facility:  Williamson Sports Center (1,000)
Date: January 10, 2014
Time: 6 p.m.
Live Video
Live Stats

Game Details
Opponent: at Union College (6-2/0-0 Liberty) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Schenectady, NY
Facility:  Viniar Athletic Center (1,000)
Date: January 11, 2014
Time: 2 p.m. 
Live Video
Live Stats

What To Watch For
The Brewer women will try to bounce back off a pair of losses in Las Vegas, their first defeats of the season. A three-game week will give the Brewers multiple opportunities to add to their win total of six, though none of the three will be an easy task. Hartwick College comes to town 8-2, and is outscoring opponents by 14.7 points per game. Vassar will then enter Liberty League action with two road games, as both Skidmore and Union sport winning records. VC struggled to defend the three-point line in Vegas, and it hurt the Brewers. Prior to those two games, Vassar had been in the top five nationally in three-point defense. If the Brewers can get back to the strong perimeter defense, it would go a long way to helping Vassar this week.

A Look at the Hawks
Hartwick has been playing some very strong basketball this year, posting an 8-2 record, along with a victory over No. 18 Ithaca College back on January 3. Hartwick boasts the 13^th best scoring defense in the country as of Monday afternoon, allowing teams to score just 51.2 points per game. The Hawks also are in the top 25 in three-point shooting, making 36 percent from behind the arc. HU's only losses have come to Oneonta State and No. 7 Tufts University, but Tuesday evening's game will be the Hawks first trip away from Lambros Arena since November 26.

Brittney Dumas has started all 10 games this season, and leads the team with 15.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. Dumas is not afraid to take the three-pointer as well, as she has made nine this year. Maria Foglia is also averaging 15 points per game, making 42.3 percent from downtown, while Lee Arduini and Kate Purcell have each started all 10 games and are both three-point threats. Taylor Vonasek has started all nine games she has played, averaging nine points per outing, and Kait Veit comes off the bench to net seven a night. The Hawks don't have a huge defensive presence in the middle, as Dumas is the team leader with seven blocks, but they do board well, averaging seven rebounds more than their opposition.

Projected Starting Five: G - Maria Foglia (15.0 PPG), G - Kate Purcell (6.8), G - Lee Arduini (5.1), F - Brittney Dumas (15.9), F - Taylor Vonasek (9.0).

Against Hartwick All-Time
The Brewers will be looking for their first win over Hartwick ever on Tuesday evening, as the Hawks hold a 4-0 all-time series lead. The two teams played last year, with Hartwick earning a 67-55 win in the AFC.

A Look at the Thoroughbreds
Skidmore started the season by dropping four of its first five games, but also has turned things around by winning four straight to pull to over .500. The Thoroughbreds have played a very difficult schedule to date, having fallen to ranked Amherst College and Williams College. SC has been pretty stingy on defense this year, ranking in the top 88 in scoring defense and field goal percentage against, though their scoring offense is 339rd out of 426 teams listed, eighth best in the Liberty League.

Much of Skidmore's success starts with the ball being in the hands of Molly McLaughlin. The point guard enters action this week 23^rd nationally in assists to turnover ratio, dishing out 2.47 assists for every turnover. She also averages 8.8 points per game, and 4.3 boards per night. Angela Botiba averages a double-double with 13.9 points and 12.2 rebounds, and Jordyn Wartts posts 12.7 points and 6.7 caroms. Skidmore has had the luxury of starting the same five in all of the nine games this year.

Projected Starting Five: G - Jordyn Watts (12.7), G - Molly McLaughlin (8.8), G - Lindsey Davis (5.6), C- Migle Vilunaite (4.7), F- Angela Botiba (13.9 PPG).

Against Skidmore All-Time
The Brewers and Thoroughbreds have met 39 previous times on the hardwood for women's basketball, with SC holding a 27-12 advantage. Last season, the two teams split their home and home series, with each team winning on the opposing team's home floor. The two teams have alternated wins over the last five tilts, as VC won the last contest 64-57 in Saratoga last season.

A Look at the Dutchwomen
Union is one of only two teams to have already played a Liberty League game, as the Dutchwomen lost to RIT in the conference opener 71-52 Friday evening. Prior to that game, Union had earned a win in its previous four contests, winning by an average of just four points over that stretch. The Dutchwomen have done well to limit their turnovers, entering the week as the Liberty League's third-best squad in turnover margin. UC's scoring defense has been solid as well, though the Dutchwomen have been whistled for the most personal fouls of any team in the conference, fouling on average 22.1 times per game.

Kelsey McDonald is among the national leaders in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio, as she dishes out 4.6 helpers per game. Amy Loya leads the team in scoring, as she is the only player in double-digits for Union, pouring in 11.1 points a game. The definition of balanced, the Dutchwomen have eight players averaging over four points per game, and 10 players playing more than 10 minutes a game. Kristin Schmidt leads the team on the glass with 6.1 caroms per game, and Kate Thompson posts 8.7 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. This season, Union has had eight players earn a start, but in a straight fact for a team with a 6-2 record, has been outscored 61.6-60.3 this year.

Projected Starting Five: G – Kelsey McDonald (7.3 PPG), G – Madeline Granato (5.5), G – Amy Loya (11.1), F – Kristen Schmidt (5.4), F – Kate Thompson (8.7).

Against Union All-Time
The Brewers will look to improve on their 12-26 all-time record against the Dutchwomen, though Vassar has won seven of the last eight, including the last four games with UC. Before the 2010 win, Vassar hadn't earned a win over Union since the 2000 season.

Bounce Back
The Brewers lost two in a row last week for the first time since January 27, 2012, a stretch of 44 games without back-to-back defeats. Vassar hasn't dropped three in a row since a three-game stretch in the 2011-12 season.

Making Them Count
Senior Hannah Senftleber (Burlington, VT/Burlington) has been one of the best free throw shooters in the country this year, making 94.6 percent from the line, which is fourth nationally.

Not Up In Here
Sophomore forward Rose Serafini (Milton, Ontario, Canada/Milton Area) has shown the ability to swat shots with the best. She ranks 60^th nationally, and leads the Liberty League with two blocks per game.

Three's Too Many
In the first six games of the season, Vassar opponents had combined to make 17 three-pointers. In the two contests in Vegas, Amherst and Gwynedd Mercy nailed 20 total trifectas, including 13 by the Griffins.

Taking Over
Senior Cydni Matsuoka (San Francisco, CA/John F. Kennedy) showed why she was named a preseason All-American first-team selection against Gwynedd Mercy, as she scored 24 points in the second-half to finish with a Vassar season-high of 28 points.

Home Cookin'
The Brewers have been cooking up some good results in the Athletics and Fitness Center this year, posting a perfect 4-0 record at home this year.

Closing In
Hannah Senftleber is one player for the Brewers that is closing in on a milestone in her career. Through Monday, Senftleber has posted 937 points and is 63 short of 1,000. At this rate, she needs to average 3.7 points per game to get to 1,000. She currently posts 15 points a night.

Up Next
Vassar will return home for a weekend of hoops against William Smith January 17 at 6 p.m., followed by a Saturday afternoon tilt with RIT at 2 p.m. January 18. Both games will be located in the AFC, and each will have live stats and broadcasts.