SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Vassar women's basketball team did not slump after the holiday break, closing 2018 with its fourth-straight win on Monday afternoon. The Brewers (7-2) rolled past Newbury (5-5) 88-57 on the opening day of the Hampton Inn West Springfield/ Naismith Classic on Monday afternoon.

Everything seemed perfect for Vassar, erupting to a 30-6 first-quarter lead and shooting 20-for-38 (52.6) in the first half.  The Brewers opened on a 7-0 run to start the game behind a pair of baskets from Isa Peczuh (Willington, CT) and a Maddie Leong (Atascadero, CA) layup. After the Nighthawks split free throws, Jackie Cenan (Laguna Beach, CA) made a layup to start a 23-3 run that went the remainder of the quarter.

Newbury scored first in the second quarter, but Ryan DeOrio (Collegeville, PA) answered by sinking a layup at 8:19. Another DeOrio layup pushed the Brewers' lead to 40-12 and then both offenses struggled for the next three minutes with neither side making a basket. Sarah Gillooly (Stow, MA) got the Brewers rolling again after picking up Natalie Pettirossi (Weston, MA) for the mid-range jumper. Gillooly showed her shooting abilities as well, hitting a triple to give Vassar a 31-point lead at 4:17. Newbury followed with a triple, but freshman Dani Douglas (Kalispell, MT) answered right away with her own as the Brewers went into halftime leading 53-25.

After Newbury made two layups to open the half, DeOrio began a 14-2 run behind a pair of free throws. Cenan then gave the Brewers their largest lead at 36 when she hit a free throw at 4:01. A final quarter push from Newbury saw the Nighthawks go on an 11-0 run before Lexi Mousley (Jericho, VT) sank a layup to break the streak. Vassar's lead proved to be too much, as the Brewers finished with the comfortable 88-57 victory.

Four players scored in double digits. Peczuh led with 16 points and five steals, while Douglas recorded a career-high 14 points behind four three-pointers. DeOrio added 13 and Sophie Nick (Denver, CO) was a rebound shy of a double-double at 12 points and nine rebounds. Mousley grabbed a career-high six rebounds and Pettirossi had her career best with eight. Gillooly also had a career-high nine points. As a team, Vassar shot 32-for-66 (48.5) and a season-high 49 rebounds.

Jaymesha Sanders led Newbury behind 18 points and nine rebounds. Savannah Olsen added 13 points and four rebounds

The Brewers return to action on New Years' Day to face host Springfield in the championship game of the Hampton Inn West Springfield/ Naismith Classic. The game tips off at 3 p.m.