POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 6, 2016) – The Vassar College (2-6, 0-0 Liberty League) women's basketball team will look to ring in the New Year in fine fashion this weekend, heading north to battle St. Lawrence University and Clarkson University in the opening Liberty League games for the Brewers. Vassar is coming off finishing second at the Salem State Holiday Tournament, knocking off host Salem State University in the opening round 66-49 before losing a 65-59 outcome against Wheaton College in the title game.

Game Details
Opponent: at St. Lawrence University (6-2, 0-0 Liberty League)
Links:
(Vassar's Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
(SLU's Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Canton, NY
Facility: Ronald T. Burkman Gymnasium
Date: January 8, 2016
Time: 6 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Stats) - (Live Video)

Opponent: at Clarkson University (5-4, 0-2 Liberty League)
Links:
(Vassar's Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
(Clarkson's Women's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Potsdam, NY
Facility: Alumni Gymnasium
Date: January 9, 2016
Time: 4 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Stats) - (Live Video)
 
What To Look For
Vassar College will look to get into Liberty League play this season, as the Brewers won just two if its eight games before conference action. The first weekend for VC poses challenges in multiple categories, first with the long trip up to North Country. Vassar has not won at St. Lawrence in the regular season since 2010, but that was the last time that VC opened conference action in Canton. Also, Vassar will have to deal with two of the League's top defenses, as SLU gives up 53.9 points and Clarkson allows just 58.1 points per game, both ranking in the top three. If Vassar can score and get acclimated quickly after the long trip, look for a fruitful visit to North Country for the Brewers.
 
A Look At The Saints (6-2, 0-0 Liberty)
St. Lawrence University, the Preseason Coaches' pick to win the league in every season the poll has been conducted, has started the campaign well. SLU is coming off a 72-60 win over Brockport on Saturday, and has won three of its last four before opening Liberty League play. Balance has been a key for the Saints, as they come into the game with six players averaging over six points per game. SLU posts 64 points per game, third-best in the conference, while outscoring opponents on average by 10.1 points a night. Three-point play is a big difference for SLU, as they make nearly seven and a half triples per game while allowing teams to make just 18.8 percent from behind the arc. Senior guard Lauren Quattrocchi, who is great at getting into the lane and dishing to open three-point shooters, facilitates much of this. She has a Liberty League-best 6.8 assists per game, which is nearly twice the amount of the next closest assist leader.
 
As stated before, balance is very big for the Saints, evidenced by the fact that SLU has no one in the top 15 in the conference in points per game. Sophomore Cara Waterson has stepped into the role filled by All-Liberty League player Kara MacDuffie over the last few years, and has blossomed into a 11.3 point per game player. Caroline Dalton, who injured her knee last year against Vassar and missed the remainder of the 2014-15 season, is back and chalking up 11.0 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game for SLU. Jenny Scudder has come off the bench in all but one game this year and adds 9.1 points as a reserve nightly, while Ellie Gonyeau is a very solid defender who is amongst the best free throw shooters in the conference.
 
Against SLU All-Time
St. Lawrence University is 27-7 all-time against Vassar dating back to 1999, but VC does have some fond memories of Burkman Gymnasium. Vassar has won two Liberty League titles on that floor, including a 64-60 win back in 2014.
 
A Look At The Golden Knights (5-4, 0-2 Liberty)
Clarkson was 5-2 entering Liberty League play last weekend, but stumbled out of the gates on the road at Union College and RPI, falling by six to the Dutchwomen and 16 against the Engineers. CU returned four of five starters to the fold this season after making the Liberty League Tournament in 2014-15, including Ashley Loggins who posted 30 points against Union last weekend. Clarkson has relied on defense this season to help fill the scoring void of First Team graduate Cara Manfredi. Clarkson is among the leaders in turnover margin, blocks and steals in the Liberty League, but the Golden Knights are last in free throw shooting and rebounding margin so far this season. CU has lost three straight, which followed a streak of three wins back from November 21 through December 5.
 
Sophomore Devin Sorell, who came off the bench for much of last season, as stepped into the starting lineup this year and come into her own. Sorell is fourth in the Liberty League in scoring with 15.4 points per game, while leading the conference with 23 made three-pointers. Loggins is sixth in the Liberty League in points per game with 14.9, combining with Sorell to form the conference's third-highest scoring tandem. CU has started the same five in all nine games, and Stephanie Grobe is among that group, posting 8.4 points a game. Sophomore guard Madison Shea is tough and gritty and adds 7.0 points per contest, with Alyssia Marsal rounding out the starting five with 6.4 points per game. CU only plays eight or nine players per game, as all five starters average over 23 minutes a contest.
 
Against Clarkson All-Time
Clarkson holds a slight 17-14 edge in the all-time series, though VC has won six of the past eight coming into this weekend. The Golden Knights won both games a season ago, including a 78-67 overtime thriller in Potsdam.
 
That's What She Said
"We are looking forward to getting started with league play. We get to open up with two teams that were in the playoffs last year and it will be a good challenge for us. I feel we are prepared and looking forward to the challenges." – Head coach Candice Brown
 
Roses All Around
Senior Rose Serafini (Milton, ON/Milton District) and sophomore Ariella Rosenthal (Mill Valley, CA/Redwood) each had solid performances last season against Clarkson. Rosenthal averaged 18 points per game against CU, while Serafini chalked up a career-high 14 points last year against the Golden Knights.
 
Rejected!
Rose Serafini continues her assault on the block career record, as she posted five last week in Salem to up her career total to 141. Serafini is 26 behind Erin Haeuser currently, and her average of 3.6 rejections per game is the best in the Liberty League.
 
Free For Me
As has been the case over the years, VC has shot the ball very well from the charity stripe. The reigning national statistical champion in this category, the Brewers lead the Liberty League in free throw percentage with a 70.1 percent clip.
 
Lend A Hand
Vassar College enters the week third in the conference in assists per game, handing out 13.63 helpers a game, slightly behind RPI for second (14.00).
 
Need To D
The Brewers have gone 2-1 this season when holding teams under 60 points, but are 0-5 when opposition gets to the 60-point barrier.
 
Scoring Outputs
Vassar College has been potent offensively at times, but the consistency is still coming around for the Brewers. VC has chalked up just two games this year when it has registered 30 or more points in both halves of a game, most recently a 66-49 win over Salem State.
 
Grabbing Boards
Freshman Sabrina Ulsh (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham) chalked up a career-high seven rebounds in limited minutes against Wheaton last time out. Ulsh has a total rebounding percentage (percent of all available rebounds grabbed while on the floor) of 17.9 percent. It's by far the highest on the team, with Rose Serafini next with 11.9 percent.
 
Heat Check?
Senior Colleen O'Connell (Maywood, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) enters the week with VC's top true shooting percentage (accounts for FGs, 3PT and FT) at 59.2 percent. Unfortunately, O'Connell is averaging just 8.9 field goals per 40 minutes, which is eighth-most on the Vassar team.
 
Power Points
Point guards Alex Moon (Mission Hills, CA/Bishop Alemany) and Nicole Teta (Maspeth, NY/Archbishop Molloy) are the two main ball handlers for VC and for good reason. Both have positive assist to turnover ratios, while Moon's 3.4 helpers a game are the most on the team and fifth in the Liberty League.
 
Up Next
Vassar returns home for the first time since November 24 next Tuesday evening, opening Liberty League home action in the Athletics and Fitness Center January 12 at 6 p.m. against RPI.