POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (December 7, 2015) – The Vassar College women's basketball team will look to end a three-game skid Tuesday evening, as it heads across the Hudson River to take on local rival New Paltz in a 6 p.m., non-conference matchup with the Hawks. Vassar is coming off a 22-point loss to Stevens Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon, and is now 1-4 on the season.

Game Details
Opponent: at New Paltz (6-2, 2-0 SUNYAC)
Links:
(Vassar's Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
(New Paltz's Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: New Paltz, NY
Facility: Hawk Center
Date: December 8, 2015
Time: 6 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
What To Look For
So much in women's basketball at the Division III level, and any level for that matter, is the ability to hold opposition to one chance per trip down the court. The Brewers in past years have been great at winning the rebounding battle, but this season clearing the glass has been a problem thus far.
 
VC has been out-boarded in three of its five games this season, including by a combined 29 caroms over the last two games. Up next is a team in New Paltz that holds a positive rebounding margin of over five boards a game, and is coming off wins that saw it hold a 62-44 and 55-39 edge on the glass. The Brewers will have to make it hard on the Hawks inside, but must turn and find a box as the Hawks have shot under 30 percent from the field in four of their last five games, but have won three of those.
 
A Look At The Hawks (6-2, 2-0 SUNYAC)
New Paltz has gotten out to a strong start this season, winning three of its last four while four of its six wins have come by 10 or more points. The Hawks are coming off a very strong start to conference play, knocking off Plattsburgh 62-52 and Potsdam 89-42 this past weekend. The Hawks currently are sitting atop the SUNYAC standings thanks to a scoring margin of 10.9 this season, holding teams to 54.6 points per game. The Hawks defense has shut down opposing offenses to the tune of a conference-best 30.8 percent shooting from the floor, and their 52.1 rebounds a game is best among SUNYAC schools.

The Hawks have gotten contributions from many players, as their offense sports four players with over eight points per game. SUNYAC Player of the Week for the first week of action Kit Small leads the team with 13.7 points per game, shooting a team-best 47.9 percent from the field, while also pulling in seven boards per game. Courtney Irby has started all eight games for the Hawks, leading the team and sitting in second place in the SUNYAC in rebounding with 10.3 boards per game. Irby also pours in 8.4 points per game, while Colleen Ames is the top three-point threat with 16 made triples this season en route to 9.4 points a game. Sydney Pinn leads the team in assists with 20, scoring 8.1 points per game though she's struggled from the floor making just 18.8 percent of her field goals. Junior Morgan Roessler and Jasmine Bryant each add six points per game, and Laura Stuart comes off the bench to pull down 7.4 rebounds a contest. Head coach Jamie Seward, husband of Vassar field hockey assistant coach Abigail Seward, is in his 10^th season with the Hawks and has won 159 career games at New Paltz.

Against New Paltz All-Time
The Brewers are 8-13 against their friendly foes across the Mid-Hudson Bridge, though VC has earned the last two meetings with the two teams. Last year, VC eked out a 57-56 win over New Paltz in the AFC, while defeating a young Hawk squad 60-53 two years ago in the Hawk Center.

Fuel The Flame
The Brewers have struggled to put the ball in the hoop this season, coming into the week ninth in the Liberty League in scoring averaging just 53.6 points per game.

Strong From The Line
In what has become a staple of any Candice Brown-coached team, the Vassar College women's squad is shooting a strong percent from the line, making 66.2 percent from the charity stripe. That number is third-best in the conference.

Sharing Is Caring
The Brewers currently lead the Liberty League in assists per game with 13.60 a game, led by Alex Moon's (Mission Hills, CA/Bishop Alemany) and her 3.2 per game.

Tower Of Power
Senior Rose Serafini (Milton, ON/Milton Area) is averaging 4.0 blocks per game this season, more than twice as many as any other player in the Liberty League. She has 132 for her career, and is just 35 away from breaking the all-time record at VC.

Starting 5
So far this season, the Brewers have rolled the same starting lineup out for all five games.

Red Rose
Rose Serafini had her best shooting performance of the season on Saturday at Stevens, making 5-of-6 from the floor en route to a season-best 12 points, blocking three shots and grabbing five boards as well.

Slow Starts
The Brewers have been outscored by 34 total points in the first half this season, while holding an 83-82 edge in the fourth period.

Sabrina, Sabrina
Freshman Sabrina Ulsh (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham) played a season-high 10 minutes on Saturday, scoring four points on 2-of-6 shooting while pulling in four rebounds.

Up Next
Vassar is off for exams after Tuesday's game but will return to campus after Christmas to head to the Salem State Holiday Tournament, taking on host Salem State along with Wheaton College (MA) and Rutgers-Newark.