SCRANTON, PA (March 8, 2014) – The Vassar College women's basketball team will look to get to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history Saturday afternoon, a day after earning its first-ever NCAA victory. Friday evening, the Brewer women pulled out a thrilling 76-75 win over 2013 Final Four finisher Williams College. Senior guard Cydni Matsuoka (Sacramento, CA/John F. Kennedy) scored 31 points against the Ephs, eclipsing 1,900 for her career thanks to the outburst. Vassar will take on host University of Scranton, who breezed by Bridgewater State University in the second game of the day Friday with a score of 88-63.

Vassar College (23-5, 13-3 Liberty League)
(Vassar Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)

Game Details
NCAA TOURNAMENT POD INFORMATION – (INTERACTIVE BRACKET) – (PRINTABLE BRACKET)
Game: vs. University of Scranton (25-3, 13-1 Landmark)
(Scranton Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)                 
Site: Scranton, PA
Facility:  Long Center (2,800)
Tickets: $6 General Admission/$3 Senior Citizens & Students
Date: March 8, 2014
Time: 5 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

NCAA Tournament Second Round Matchup
Category	Vassar	Scranton
Scoring Offense	70.1	75.5
Scoring Defense	60.6	58.0
FG%	41.5	43.4
FG% Defense	36.6	35.7
3PT%	36.8	32.3
FT%	77.1	74.3
RPG	44.3	43.1
TPG	14.3	16.1
APG	13.8	17.9
SPG	8.0	10.8
BPG	3.8	3.4

What To Look For
The Vassar College women's basketball will have to compete with the size that the Lady Royals bring to the table Saturday, but that isn't anything new for the Brewers. Scranton is deep in the post, but Vassar has been undersized within the Liberty League all year and it created matchup problems for the other team as well. Also, Scranton is deadly in the open court, as the Lady Royals smothered Bridgewater State Friday, getting out in transition to make their first 10 shots from the field against the Bears. Vassar needs to minimize turnovers which will slow down the potent fast break game for the hosts Saturday.

A Look At The Lady Royals
The University of Scranton comes into the NCAA Second Round with an impressive 25-3 overall record, earning the Landmark Conference automatic bid into the tournament with a 74-61 defeat of rival Moravian in the league title game. When you think of Division III women's basketball, the University of Scranton is one of the iconic teams around the nation. The Lady Royals are the all-time leaders in wins at the Division III level, while head coach Mike Strong has more victories over his 33-year tenure with the U than any other Division III women's basketball coach ever. Scranton has been to the NCAA Tournament 26 times since 1982, making eight NCAA Final Fours while earning an NCAA Championship in 1985.

This year's squad has lived up to the legacy set forth by previous squads, as the team is among the national leaders in a bevy of categories. The Lady Royals rank 11^th in the country in assists per game with 17.6 a game, while posting the 15^th best assist-to-turnover ratio in the nation. Scranton also has outscored opposition this season by 17.3 points, the 20^th best ratio in Division III. US ranked first in the Landmark Conference in 10 statistical categories, and its balance and ball movement are what make the Lady Royals so difficult to defend.

Point guard Lindsay Fluehr is the engine that drives the car for Scranton, as she is 17^th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio, while also ranking 34^th in the country with 5.1 assists per game. She has started all 28 games this season, and while she doesn't shoot a ton she's been efficient in her shooting, making 41.6 percent from shots behind the three-point line. American University transfer Meredith Mesaris has been a great addition for Scranton, as she leads the team in scoring with over 18 points per night, shooting 50.4 percent from the floor, adding a stellar 85.4 percent from the line. Fellow post player Sarah Payonk has started all 28 games for Scranton, pulling in a team-best 8.2 rebounds to go with 11 points per game.

Scranton is among the deepest teams in the nation, and it shows when looking at the statistics. The Lady Royals have six players averaging more than five points per game this year, and 10 players get over 10 minutes on average nightly. Alexix Roman has come off the bench in 21 games, averaging nine points per contest, and Alison Sweeney and Lia DiSciascio have combined to make 82 triples on the year. The Lady Royals are one of the toughest teams to play at home, chalking up a 10-1 record in the Long Center, with the lone loss coming to Moravian College January 29, 66-65. Coming into Saturday, the Lady Royals have won 10 straight, all since that loss to the Hounds at home.

Looking at common opponents this season, the Brewers and Scranton have played just one similar squad, that being Montclair State University. The Lady Royals fell to Montclair State 86-75 in the season opener for both squads, while Vassar knocked off the Red Hawks by five in the Athletics and Fitness Center (AFC) on December 11.

Projected Starting Lineups:
VC – G – Cydni Matsuoka (18.9 PPG), G – Caitlin Drakeley (12.4 PPG), G – Allyson Pemberton (7.4 PPG), F – Hannah Senftleber (14.7 PPG), F – Michaela Janowski (3.5 PPG).

SCRANTON – F – Sarah Payonk (11.0 PPG), F – Meredith Mesaris (18.9 PPG), G – Lindsay Fluehr (5.2 PPG), G – Faith DeVlieger (2.4 PPG), G – Alison Sweeney (8.0 PPG).

Against Scranton All-Time
Saturday's meeting with the Lady Royals will mark the first time that the two institutions have met on the basketball hard wood. Scranton has posted a 4-0 all-time record against teams from the Liberty League, while Vassar is 5-3 against teams currently comprising the Landmark Conference.
We're No. 1
The Brewers collected their first NCAA Tournament victory ever on Friday evening with a 76-75 win over Williams College. The win was the first for a Liberty League team since the 2007-08 season, when St. Lawrence made the Sweet 16 and William Smith earned a win in the first round.

Feels Like The Third Time
Vassar College earned its third Liberty League title last Saturday with a 64-60 win over St. Lawrence University. The Brewers are now a perfect 3-0 in championship games, and have represented the Liberty League during the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four seasons.

Seen You Before
Vassar is 2-1 against teams within the NCAA Tournament this year, earning wins over then No. 3 Montclair State University (Dec. 11, W – 63-58) and Hartwick College (Jan. 7, W – 67-65), while falling to Amherst College 66-53 in Las Vegas on December 28.

Get To The Glass
Vassar College has understood the importance of controlling the glass this year, and it certainly has benefited them. In games that VC has won the battle on the boards, it is a cool 20-1 with the only loss coming in overtime at William Smith College.

40-40 Club
This season, when the Brewers shoot over 40 percent from the field, they are a perfect 15-0.

No Foul Play
The Brewers are one of the best teams in the country at playing legal defense, ranking 12^th nationally with just 13.9 personals per game.

For Free
The Brewers have made the most of their opportunities at the free throw line, shooting 77.1 percent from the charity stripe this year. That leads the Liberty League and is eighth best in Division III. Cydni Matsuoka leads the nation in the statistic, making 93.6 percent at the line. She has also made her last 48 free throws.

Bombs Away
Vassar College shooting from behind the arc this year has been stellar, posting the 14^th-best three-point shooting percentage (.368) in the nation. Senior Cydni Matsuoka leads the team with the sixth-best rate in the nation, making 47.1 percent from deep.

Helping Out
Cydni Matsuoka ranks 12^th in D-III in assist-turnover ratio, handing out 2.42 assists per turnover.

High Scoring
Vassar broke the single-season record for points in a season with the 76-point outburst against Williams Friday, and current sits with 1,963 tallies on the year.

Awesome AP
Junior Allyson Pemberton (Weston, MA/Weston) is averaging over seven points a game and was named Liberty League Tournament MOP and Player of the Week over the last week. Not bad for a player that came into the season averaging 2.4 points per game over her previous two seasons.

Clutch From The Line
This year, in the final five minutes of games, Vassar has made 81.8 percent from the line. More impressively, the starting five has made 103 of its 122 (84.4 percent) at the end of games.

Everyone On Board
This year, the Brewers have posted nine games where all players dressed for the game have scored at least two points.

Comeback Kids
This year, the Brewers have trailed in each of their last eight games, but have rallied to earn wins in six of those, overcoming double-digit deficits twice.

Bench Benefit
Coming into Friday games, the Brewers are 18-2 when getting double-digits from its bench.
 
Is That So?
This season, the Brewers are 0-0 against teams with a mascot of a woman dignitary (Scranton Lady Royals). Coincidentally, Vassar is now 1-0 on the season against squads with a cow mascot (Williams Ephs).

2013-14 Records From Another Look (Out of):
Home: 13-1 (14)
Road: 9-2 (11)
Neutral: 1-2 (3)
Leading Scorer 20 or less:  11-3 (14)
Leading Scorer 21 or more: 12-2 (14)
Leading Rebounder 10 or less:  11-4 (15)
Leading Scorer 11 or more: 12-1 (13)
Against Teams A-K: 6-2 (8)
Against Teams L-Z: 17-3 (20)
Against Connecticut Teams: 1-0 (1)
Against Massachusetts Teams: 2-1 (3)
Against Pennsylvania Teams: 0-1 (1)
Against NY Teams: 19-3 (22)
Against NJ Teams: 1-0 (1)

--VASSAR--