NEW PALTZ, NY (December 8, 2015) – The Vassar College women's basketball team led for 24:20 minutes of the contest but couldn't hold on Tuesday evening, as 29 turnovers thwarted the Brewers efforts in a 63-60 road loss to local rival New Paltz in non-conference action from the Hawk Center.

The Brewers (1-5) did nearly everything else right on Tuesday night, forcing the host Hawks (7-2) into 29.7 percent shooting while also winning the rebounding battle, 42-35. The difference was the turnovers and foul shots as New Paltz took 28 on the game, making 18 to just the eight made free throws from Vassar.

A tight contest throughout the game, Vassar took a 12-9 lead into the second quarter thanks to eight points off turnovers and six second-chance points in the opening period. Senior Caitlin Drakeley (Woodbury, CT/Nonnewaug) led all scorers in the first quarter with six points, while senior Rose Serafini (Milton, ON/Milton Area) had four blocks in the first 4:12 of the game.

In the second quarter, VC continued to lead until a three-pointer from junior Morgan Roessler pushed the Hawks back in front by one at 16-15 with 6:51 to play in the opening half. With the score 17-15, Vassar went on the offensive thanks to a 7-0 run to take a five-point lead, capped by a triple from senior Colleen O'Connell (Maywood, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy).

The Brewers continued to lead, taking a five-point advantage into the break at 27-22. Drakeley paced Vassar in the first half with eight points, while sophomore Ariella Rosenthal (Mill Valley, CA/Redwood) added six points. Vassar shot 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) in the first half.

In the second half the Brewers upped their lead to as much as a game-high eight points with 3:15 to go in the third quarter on a jumper by Samarah Cook (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow). VC was able to deny any rally attempt by New Paltz in the third quarter, taking a five-point, 48-43 edge into the fourth.

New Paltz closed the gap early in the fourth quarter, as Colleen Ames of the Hawks buried a three-pointer to deadlock the game at 50. Rosenthal answered with a layup to regain the lead for Vassar, but New Paltz took its first lead since 4:20 remaining in the second period at 54-52 on a layup by Courtney Irby.

Freshman Nicole Teta (Maspeth, NY/Archbishop Molloy) knocked down a jump shot with just over three minutes to play to tie the game once more, and she once again deadlocked the contest at 56 a minute later on a fast break layup off a steal. The host Hawks answered Teta's layup with a three-pointer from Kit Small, but VC pulled back within one with 52 seconds to play after a jumper by Rosenthal.
After Vassar got a great defensive stop on a turnover with 24 seconds, VC had a chance to go ahead by a steal by Irby with three seconds to go sent Small to the line for two free throws. Small connected on both to make the score 63-60, and a final heave at the buzzer was blocked lifting New Paltz to the win.

Both Rosenthal and Drakeley finished with 16 points leading the Brewers, each making seven field goals on the evening. O'Connell added six points, a team-high seven rebounds and two assists off the bench, while Teta chalked up eight points, five steals and three assists.

Freshman Sabrina Ulsh (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham) chalked up five points and five rebounds as well for VC, as the Brewers shot a season-best 46.3 percent on field goals including making 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) from the floor in the second half.

New Paltz was led by Irby and her double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Small finished with a game-high 17 points and five rebounds. Ames added 13 points off the bench for the Hawks, who pulled down 19 offensive rebounds for the contest.

Vassar is off until December 29 when it travels to Salem State University for the Salem State Holiday Tournament, taking on the host Vikings at 4 p.m. in non-conference play.