POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 15, 2016) — The Vassar College women's basketball team (0-1) dropped its season-opener, 74-71, to New Paltz (1-0) at the Athletics and Fitness Center on Tuesday.
"I think that we did a lot of good things, but we definitely have to hold onto the ball," coach Candice Brown said. "Twenty-nine turnovers, we're never going to win a basketball game. Shooting 56 percent (from the free-throw line), that definitely makes a difference in a three-point game."
Sophie Nick led the Brewers with 18 points on nine shots, adding seven rebounds, as three Brewers notched double-digit scoring. Ariella Rosenthal finished with 13 points and a team-best eight boards, while Samarah Cook tallied 13 points and a game-high five assists.
"Samarah definitely kept us in the game," Brown said. "She really worked hard, she attacked the basket, got them in foul trouble early. She hit shots from the outside. If there was a key player that was in tune for the full 40 minutes, it was Samarah Cook."
The Brewers carried the momentum of their home crowd throughout the first quarter, using a 11-2 run to take a 19-9 lead with about two minutes remaining. Cook sparked the surge with a triple, while Kim Romanoff capped it with a layup following a pair of free throws.
The break between the first and second quarters allowed the Hawks to regroup. They ended the stanza, scoring 16 of the final 21 points. Cook broke up the burst with another layup and a quick-release three.
Vassar owned the first quarter, New Paltz owned the second, and neither side took entire control in the third. The Brewers and Hawks exchanged buckets back and forth throughout the third, as neither team led by more than two possessions.
Such a neck-and-neck third quarter prompted a nail-biting fourth. Vassar led by as many as six, 57-53 before New Paltz notched the next 11 points to take a 64-59 advantage with 2:43 remaining.
Nick netted a pair of jumpers, pulling the Brewers within one, 64-63, but that was the closest they came to regaining the lead, as the Hawks scored 10 of the final 18 points, almost all of which came from the line.
Once again, Nick put the Brewers within striking distance, draining a triple with nine seconds to go to make it a two-point game, 73-71. The Hawks knocked down a free throw on the other end to make it 74-71. Isa Peczuh heaved the game's final shot with a chance to tie, but it hit off the rim, as New Paltz took the season-opener.
The Brewers shot 43 percent from the floor and 44 percent (8-of-18) from three, while their visitors shot 44 and 10 (1-of-10) percent, respectively.
"It was great for our young kids to see what it's like to play at the collegiate level," Brown said. "We've got to continue to make progress, and continue to get better over the course of the season."
Vassar will be on the road for the next week, facing Morrisville State College at the College of Brockport Tournament on Friday, Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. The Brewers will then play on Saturday for the second day of the tournament at a time to be determined.
Vassar will then conclude its road trip at Mount Saint Mary College (NY) on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. before returning to Poughkeepsie for a trifecta of games.
—VASSAR—
