POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 30, 2016) – The Vassar College women's basketball team picked up one of its most impressive victories in recent memory on Saturday afternoon, as the Brewers pulled away for a 76-60 victory over preseason Liberty League favorite St. Lawrence University in action from the Athletics and Fitness Center Saturday. The Brewers had a great crowd for the second straight day, as VC's Alumni Day brought back some of the greatest Brewer women's hoopsters in program history. 

In a season that has been filled with near-misses, heartbreaking losses and frustration, Saturday's performance showed the potential that the Brewers (5-13, 3-7 Liberty League) still have with seven games to play. After surrendering a 10-point, fourth quarter lead on Friday night against Clarkson University, the Brewers were put in that situation once again on Saturday against St. Lawrence.

Protecting an 11-point lead going into the fourth quarter, the Brewers showed resolve and pulled away from the visiting Saints to pick up the 16-point win. The deciding period came after halftime, after VC took a five-point (39-34) deficit into the break, the Brewers exploded for a 23-point third quarter to take and keep the lead.

In the crucial third quarter, the Brewers outscored the visiting Saints 23-7, starting the period with a 16-2 run to take a 51-40 lead after a layup from senior Caitlin Drakeley. A pair of free throws from Caroline Dalton stopped the run, and SLU (13-5, 6-3 Liberty League) got under double-digits at 53-44 with 1:55 left in the third quarter after a layup by Cara Waterson.

St. Lawrence pulled to within nine again with 50 seconds to play in the third period on a jumper by Ellie Gonyeau, but that was the last time that SLU would trail by less than 10 points for the rest of the game. Vassar led by as much as 18 points with 44 seconds to play, as Rosenthal converted an old-fashioned three-point play to put a bow on the win.

VC led after the first quarter 18-17, but a 22-16 second period for the Saints put them up at the break. Rosenthal finished with a game-best 20 points Saturday, making 8-of-11 from the floor and all three of her free throws. Drakeley posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, adding to her team-leading fourth double-double of the season.

Senior Rose Serafini had an eventful day for the Brewers, as she finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks, making all five of her field goals. In addition to her great stat line, some history followed the senior forward, as she became the Brewers' all-time block leader, when her third block of the day gave her 168 for her career. That eclipsed the 167 that Emily Haeuser, the previous record-holder, tallied in her career.

Freshman Nicole Teta came off the bench to score 13 points, and Julia Roellke added six points and five boards. The Brewers shot the ball well Saturday, making 31-of-70 (44.3 percent) from the floor. The big stat for VC was its turnover total, as the Brewers turned the ball over just five times. It was the fewest in a game since VC turned it over four times back on February 21, 2014 at SLU.

SLU was paced by 17 points from Waterson, while Dalton added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Brewers will finish up their non-conference slate on Tuesday evening, hosting the Knights of Mount Saint Mary College in the AFC at 7 p.m.