POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Juniors Isa Peczuh (Willington, CT) and Sophie Nick (Denver, CO) combined for 47 points in the Vassar women's basketball team's 71-53 victory over the Thoroughbreds (9-17) on Tuesday evening. With the win, Vassar (21-5) now travels to Ithaca, NY to face RIT in the semifinals.
 
The Brewers were led by Peczuh, who scored a game-high 26 points and tied the program record with eight-made three-pointers. Nick accounted for 21 points and added five rebounds. As a team, Vassar shot a season-high 60 percent (27-of-45) from the field and 60 percent (12-of-20) from beyond the arc.
 
Vassar jumped out to a 20-11 first quarter lead, with Peczuh shooting 4-of-5 from three-point range to have 12 points. The Thoroughbreds went up 7-6 after a Jessica Centore jumper, but it ended up being their last of the night. Two straight treys from Peczuh sparked a 14-2 run. Centore scored all of Skidmore's 11 points in the quarter.
 
Five three-pointers from Skidmore in the second began to chip away at the Vassar lead. Two threes from Kate McCarney and another by Caroline Merguerian made it a one-point contest, 28-27, at 6:07. Scores from Dani Douglas (Kalispell, MT) and Natalie Pettirossi (Weston, MA) soon after pushed the Brewers lead to six. Then, a final second jumper by Nick kept the advantage at 37-30 heading into the half.
 
Centore scored the opening basket of the half, but the Brewers would take an 11-5 run to extend the lead to 13 by the end of the quarter. An 8-0 run to start the fourth was capped off with a Douglas three and the Brewers went up 62-21 at 6:58. Skidmore never pulled within closer than 15, and Skylar Schmid (Natick, MA) sealed the game with the final layup.
 
Pettirossi had a career-high 10 points and led the team with eight rebounds. Ryan DeOrio (Collegeville, PA) dished out a career-high seven assists, while Maddie Leong (Atascadero, CA) had four. As a team, Vassar outrebounded Skidmore 38-20 and had a 25-9 assist advantage.
 
Centore led the Thoroughbreds with 19 points, while Taylor Ong and Haley English added eight each.
 
Vassar faces RIT in the semifinals of the Liberty League Tournament this Saturday in Ithaca, NY. Tip-off is slated for 2:30 p.m.