NEW YORK (February 10, 2015) – The Vassar College women's fencing team, coming off four wins Saturday at Dartmouth College, battled New York University and top-ranked Columbia University at NYU Tuesday evening in non-conference fencing action from the Coles Sports Center.

The Brewer women were defeated by New York University 16-11, and picked up three bouts against No. 1 Columbia but the Lions were too much in the end. Columbia came into the day having earned the Ivy League crown Monday, and continued the roll Tuesday by knocking off Vassar 24-3.

Against the Violets, the Brewer foil team earned a win a 5-4 decision thanks to three wins by freshman Kirsten Denman (Yellow Springs, OH/Yellow Springs). Denman to that point had earned wins in 14 of her previous 15 bouts. Teammates Janelle Washington (Brooklyn, NY/High School Health Prof. Human) and Catrina Tellez (Felton, CA/San Lorenzo Valley) also picked up victories to help the Brewers past NYU in foil.

In sabre against NYU, freshman Annie Innes-Gold (Northampton, MA/Northampton) fell in her first match of the day but rallied for a pair of wins for Vassar to go 2-1. Senior captain Kathleen Konno (Newburgh, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) earned a close 5-4 triumph in the opening sabre bout of the day for VC, and fellow captain Anastasia Stevens (Peterborough, NH/Contoocook Valley Regional) also earned a 5-3 win for the Brewers in sabre.

In epee, the Brewers had to deal with the absence of sophomore standout Olivia Weiss (Pittsburgh, PA/Pennsylvania Cyber Charter). Senior squad leader Megan Lewis (Charleston, SC/Governor's School) helped pick up the slack with two victories for the Brewers against NYU, but the Violets secured up the match win with a 7-2 decision in epee.

Against Columbia, the Brewers picked up one win each in all three weapons. Innes-Gold posted a 5-2 win over senior Suzy Freeman, while Amreen Bhasin (Cresskill, NJ/Riverdale) earned a win in epee and Denman defeated fellow freshman Jasmine Fatourechi 5-0 in foil.

The Vassar College women will take part in the first ever Eastern Women's Fencing Conference Championships this Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m., hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology.