POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (December 29, 2016) — The Vassar College women's basketball team (3-6, 0-0 Liberty) kicks off conference play, competing at Skidmore College on Friday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. and Union College the next day at noon. 

Game Details
Opponent: Skidmore Thoroughbreds (3-5, 0-0 Liberty)
Links: (Skidmore Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Saratoga Springs, NY
Facility: Williamson Sports Center
Date: December 30, 2016
Time: 2 p.m.

Game Details
Opponent: Union Dutchwomen (4-4, 0-0 Liberty)
Links: (Union Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Schenectady, NY
Facility: Viniar Athletic Center
Date: December 31, 2016
Time: 12 p.m.

Last Time Out: Vassar went 0-2 in the Puerto Rico Classic, with a 56-50 setback to undefeated Messiah College on Dec. 18 and a 70-59 loss to DePauw University on Dec. 21. In the latter, Samarah Cook notched a career-high 16 points to lead three Brewers in double-digit scoring.

A Look At The Brewers (3-6): 

• The Brewers will be looking for their first victory of December, last winning against Drew University on Nov. 30 by a 67-48 decision.
• Many of VC's setbacks have been by small margins, as the Brewers are outscoring opponents by an average of 2.3 points, 64.3 to 62.0. 
• The Brewers have shot 39 percent from the floor and 30 percent from three, while holding opponents to 37 and 17 percent, respectively.
• Vassar's 17 three-point percentage on defense is the lowest in the conference and the third best in the country. Only Christopher Newport (16.1) and Manhattanville (16.4) have lower percentages. 
• The Brewers have grabbed an average of 2.4 rebounds per game more than opponents, 41.2 boards to 38.8.
• Vassar has been generous with the ball, generating 15.6 assists per game compared to opponents' 8.9.
• Two Brewers are averaging double-digit scoring in Ariella Rosenthal (15.3ppg, third most in the conference) and Sophie Nick (11.0ppg, 13th most in the conference). Nick also leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game, which is the fifth most grabs in the Liberty League.
• Cook averages the most assists on the team with 3.2 dishes per game, adding 9.2 points per game as well.
• Isa Peczuh has drained the most three-pointers on the team with 14, boasting a 41 percent shooting clip from downtown. She has also registered a team-best 17 steals. 

A Look At The Thoroughbreds (3-5):

• Skidmore has dropped its past two games, falling 63-60 to Wesleyan University on Dec. 3 and most recently losing 52-47 to Middlebury College on Dec. 10. 
• Skidmore is 2-2 at home, 0-3 on the road and 1-0 at neutral sites. The Thoroughbreds' three wins have come against Endicott College (Nov. 18), the Sage Colleges (Nov. 28) and Keene State (Dec. 2).
• On average, the Thoroughbreds have been outscored by opponents by 1.2 points, 57.6 to 56.4.
• The Thoroughbreds have shot 36 percent from the floor, 24 percent from three and 66 percent from the line, while opponents have shot 34, 29 and 61 percent, respectively. 
• Skidmore generates 0.1 more steals per game compared to opponents, 8.5 to 8.4.
• Kelly Donnelly is the only Thoroughbred to average double figures in the scoring column with 18.9 points per game. The next leading scorer is Migle Vilunaite, who averages 7.9 per contest. 
• Donnelly also leads the team in rebounds per game (9.6) and total steals (22).
• Vilunaite has blocked a team-best five shots, tallying 7.4 rebounds per game and 11 total steals as well.
• Haley English has been Skidmore's primary facilitator, dishing out a team-best 2.1 assists per game. 
• The Thoroughbreds look to build upon their 2015-16 campaign, in which they finished 14-11 overall and 8-8 in conference play. 

Against Skidmore All-Time: The Brewers are 15-30 against the Thoroughbreds all-time, dating back to their first meeting in 1988. Skidmore swept last season's series 2-0 with a 61-54 win in January and a 72-69 victory in February.

A Look At The Dutchwomen (4-4):

• The Dutchwomen have won two of their past three, most recently edging Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Dec. 10, 43-41. 
• Against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Union used a 17-4 run over the third and fourth quarters to take control of the game. Sophie Borg scored nine points in the run on her way to scoring 17 in the game.
• The Dutchwomen have averaged 5.5 more points than opponents, 57.9 to 52.4.
• The Dutchwomen have shot 37 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three and 65 percent from the line, while opponents have shot 35, 25 and 60 percent, respectively.
• Skidmore has also grabbed 3.6 more boards per game, 39.9 to 36.3, and has dished out 1.3 more assists per game, 10.9 and 9.6. 
• The Dutchwomen have swatted an average of 6.1 blocks per game, which is the most in the Liberty League. 
• Two Dutchwomen are averaging double figures in Erin Lyons (11.3ppg) and Nicole Conley (11.0ppg). 
• Lyons and Natalie Leone are both averaging 6.0 rebounds per game to lead the team. 
• Conley has been solid on defense with a team-leading 19 steals and 15 blocks, adding 4.6 rebounds per game as well.
• Jenni Barra has been Skidmore's primary facilitator, dishing out a team-best 2.4 assists per game.
• The Thoroughbreds look to improve upon last season, in which they finished 17-8 overall and 11-5 in conference play. 

Against Union All-Time: The Brewers are 15-28 against the Dutchwomen all-time, dating back to their first meeting in 1989. Vassar won their most recent matchup by a 66-54 decision on Feb. 12, 2016. 

Next Up: Vassar returns to Poughkeepsie for a five-game homestand, hosing Rochester Institute of Technology (Jan. 6, 6pm), William Smith College (Jan. 7, 2pm), Bard College (Jan. 10, 6pm), Clarkson University (Jan. 13, 6pm) and St. Lawrence University (Jan. 14, 2pm).

—VASSAR—