NCAA Program
 
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – After receiving an at-large bid, the Vassar women's basketball team (21-6) will head to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history. The Brewers' first-round game against SUNY Geneseo gets underway at 5 p.m. on Friday from Amherst College's LeFrak Gymnasium.
 
Vassar played four fellow NCAA Tournament teams during the regular season, defeating two of them on the road. The Brewers defeated William Smith for the first-time ever on the road on Dec. 1, and also beat Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.) on Nov. 20.
 
Senior Maddie Leong (Atascadero, CA) was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year and is the first player in program history to receive this honor. Leong averages 5.1 boards a game and grabbed a career-high 13 on Feb. 8 at RIT. Her 2.6 assists average led the Brewers this season.
 
Junior Sophie Nick (Denver, CO) earned All-Liberty League First Team honors after leading the Brewers with 15.9 points a game and 9.3 rebounds a game. She ranks third in the league with a 46.5 shooting percentage and led the league shooting 97.7 percent (86-of-88) from the free throw line. Fellow junior Isa Peczuh (Willington, CT) picked up honorable mention after averaging 13.1 points this season. Vassar's primary three-point specialist, her 81 triples and 39.7 shooting percentage from beyond the arc led the conference.
 
SUNY Geneseo earned an at-large bid as well, going 23-4 overall. The Knights fell 63-57 to New Paltz in the SUNYAC Championship game. Geneseo will be making its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and its fifth in a row. The Knights are led by two All-SUNYAC First Teamers in sophomore Lindsay Halpin and senior McKenna Brooks. Halpin led the league with 4.4 assists a game and also added 2.0 steals and 10.3 points a contest. Brooks was the SUNYAC Player of the Year in 2017-18 and is the Knights' top scorer at 12.8 points per game. She also grabs 8.6 rebounds while recording 1.7 blocks and 1.6 steals a contest.
 
The winner of this game faces either Amherst or Husson on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the NCAA Second Round.