POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - It was an outstanding night of opening action as the Vassar College women's basketball team opened their 2019-20 season with a 72-48 win over Eastern University in game one of the Hochberg Family Tip-Off Tournament at the Athletics and Fitness Center on Friday. The Brewers advance to the tournament championship game on Saturday and will face Worcester State University, who posted a 52-42 game two victory over Oneonta State. Vassar is now 1-0, Eastern moves to 1-2, Worcester State is now 3-1 and Oneonta State is 1-1 on the young season.

In the night's opener between Vassar and the Eagles, the two team's played a tight match through the first 10 minutes. With Vassar holding a 16-13 edge to begin the second quarter, the homestanding Brewers blew the game wide open with 19 unanswered in the frame. Senior forward Sophie Nick (Denver, CO), who scored six of the team's first eight points in the quarter, helped VC to a 24-13 edge with 6:01 to play. Sophomore guard Sarah Gillooly (Stow, MA) then added a pair of buckets to give Vassar a 15-point advantage (30-15) with just under three to play. Junior guard Da'Naziah Brown (Chester, PA) helped Eastern pull to within 14 (35-21) with a pair of buckets - including a three with 28 seconds left - but Vassar headed into the halftime with the 35-21 lead.

Gillooly helped give the Brewers its largest lead of the contest in the third quarter as VC jumped out to a commanding 49-25 lead following the sophomore's jumper with 3:29 to play in the frame. Sophomore guard Jaelyn Harris (Richmond, VA) helped Eastern cut the deficit seconds later, but a jumper from rookie guard Emily Tincher (Pleasanton, CA) and layup from junior forward Skylar Schmid (Natick, MA) gave Vassar a 26-point (53-27) advantage. Heading into the final stanza, Eastern came out strong as Harris nailed a three, followed by a three off the hands of freshman forward Kay Wulah (Newark, DE) to make it a 63-39 game. The Eagles shot solid from the free throw line in the frame, but were not able to close the gap as Vassar took the win.

Vassar was led by Nick, who poured in a game-best 17 points with six rebounds and an assist. Tincher notched 12 points in her first collegiate game, adding six boards, two assists and a block, while Gillooly and Schmid each posted eight points. Junior guard Ryan DeOrio (Collegeville, PA) had a game-high four assists while also adding a block.

For Eastern, Brown had 14 points with two rebounds. Junior guard Minika Glenn (Philadelphia, PA) chipped in with 12 points and four caroms, while Jaelyn Harris had 10 points. Wulah added four points, three assists and had a game-best six rebounds.

In the second match of the evening, Worcester State held off the Red Dragons. Senior guard Mya Mosley (Worcester, MA) recorded a game-best 16 points, adding a game-high eight rebounds, nine steals and two blocks - which was also tops among all players. Sophomore forward Sarah Blomgren (Lunenberg, MA) was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line to finish with 10 points and five assists, while junior guard Colleen Cutting (Auburn, MA) added nine points with two assists.

For Oneonta State, senior forward Leanne Corso (Commack, NY) poured in 14 points with five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Freshman guard Olivia Dobrovsky (Skaneateles, NY) put in eight points with five rebounds while senior center Casey Hayes (New Hyde Park, NY) added six points and four boards.

Vassar will face Worcester State in the Hochberg Family Tip-Off Tournament Championship game at 3pm tomorrow at the AFC Gymnasium. Oneonta State and Eastern will play the consolation match at 1pm.