BAYAMON, PR (December 21, 2016) – Vassar College senior Samarah Cook notched a career-high 16 points Wednesday, but the Brewer women's basketball team was topped by DePauw University 70-59 in action from the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Gymnasium.

Wednesday morning's game did not come without its share of obstacles just to get played, as the game was originally slated for Monday at noon in San Juan. Due to travel complications from the Tigers, the game was moved out to UPR-B at 10 AM local time. Once the teams were at the gymnasium, the scoreboards did not function, forcing a 34-minute delay before the game got underway.

Once the game started, both teams came out of the gate quick, taking advantage of the long warmup. Vassar (3-6) led by as many as three points twice, the latest coming at 7:02 of the opening period on a jumper from junior Ariella Rosenthal. DePauw (10-1), which is earning votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, finished the first quarter with a 15-3 run to make the score 21-12 after the first 10 minutes.

The Tigers grew their lead to as many as 15 points at 4:31 of the first half on a free throw from Claire Ryan, taking a 37-24 advantage into the intermission. Cook had seven points to pace the Brewers after 20 minutes, while Maya Howard posted a game-best 10 points at the break. DePauw also shot 44.7 percent in the opening two quarters, opposed to the 30.4 percent (7-23) from VC. Vassar did connect on eight of its 10 free throws in the first half though.

Out of the halftime intermission, Vassar had a strong push to get the game to within seven points on a steal from Cook and layup from sophomore Maeve Sussman at 7:43 of the third quarter. The lead for the Tigers would remain double digits for the rest of the quarter, but Cook knocked down a jumper with 49 seconds left in the third to make the score 51-43 going into the final period. VC held DU to just 23.1 percent shooting in the third quarter.

In the fourth, Vassar's defense clamped down to force seven turnovers, as the Brewers trimmed their deficit down to its smallest since the first quarter after Cook knocked down a layup with 4:27 left. Sydney Kopp of DePauw answered with a jumper, as the Tigers netted eight straight points to pull away late.

Cook was 5-of-8 from the floor, while making five of her six free throws as well to finish with her career-best. Her previous personal high for points was 14 against Haverford College last season and at Mount Saint Mary College in 2014-15. Rosenthal finished with 13 points and three boards, while Sussman posted 12 points.

Freshman Sophie Nick had six points, a team-high five rebounds and a career-high three blocks, as Vassar shot 38.8 percent (19-49) from the field. VC also was 19-of-29 from the free throw line. Freshman Jackie Cenan returned from injury, and added two points and a pair of blocks as well.

Taylor Howard posted a team-best 16 points, as she finished 7-from-11 from the floor as one of five players in double figures for DePauw. Emily Budde came off the bench to score 13 points and grab five rebounds, as Ryan added 11 points and a game-best nine boards. Kopp and Maya Howard each finished with 10 points for the Tigers, who shot 43.5 percent despite missing each of their 10 shots from three-point land. DePauw finished with 48 points in the paint, and 13 seconds chance points due to a 42-27 lead on the glass.

Vassar will return to the United States Thursday before opening Liberty League play on Friday, December 30 at Skidmore College at 2 p.m. in play from Williamson Sports Center in Saratoga Springs, NY.