SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Powered by a career-high 24 points – including five three-pointers - from rookie Julia Harvey, the Vassar College women's basketball team upended Skidmore College, 83-71 in Liberty League action on Friday at the Williamson Athletic Center. The Brewers move to 6-1 in league play and 7-6 overall, while the Thoroughbreds are now 2-3 in the Liberty League and 7-3 on the season.

Harvey, who shot 52.9% (9-of-17) from the floor and 50.0% (5-of-10) from three-point range, added five rebounds with two assists and two steals. Senior captain Sarah Gillooly added 17 points, completing the double-double with a game-best 10 boards and seven assists. Junior Alex Lee added a career-high 14 points, adding a rebound, two assists and a steal, while senior captain Dani Douglas added 12 points with a game-high four steals and six boards.

Skidmore was paced by sophomore Julia Blanck, who had 16 points and seven rebounds to go with two assists and a block. Junior Kate McCarney and rookie Andi Levitz each dropped in 12 points, while senior Clare Driscoll posted eight points and six rebounds to go along with five assists and a game-high four blocks. Junior Maddie Hastings paced the team in rebounds with eight, adding a game-best four steals to go along with six points.

Early foul trouble for the Brewers got the Thoroughbreds out to the quick start as Hastings dropped in a pair at the free throw line in the opening 20 seconds of the first. The Brewers tied things up on a jumper by Lee and battled back once again, taking a 5-4 lead on a three-pointer by Harvey at 7:55.

Skidmore battled back, making it a one-point (18-17) game at 1:35 to play with a Cassie Davidson layup in the paint, but a pair of free throw makes from rookie Tova Gelb opened the lead to three (20-17) as play moved into the second quarter.

It was a back-and-forth battle to open the second frame as the Brewers and Thoroughbreds went end to end hitting buckets. Vassar kept pace until 8:25 when Davidson drained a three to tie things at 24-24, but Gillooly nailed a step-back jumper to regain the lead (26-24) at the 8:00 mark.

Skidmore continued to press back, but another three-pointer from the Brewers – this one from Lee – forced the home team into a timeout with 5:39 to play and Vassar up 31-26. Another shot from Blanck was quickly countered as Gillooly dropped in a trey to make it a 10-point (38-28) lead with 3:58 left in the half.

A coast-to-coast layup from Hastings helped Skidmore close the gap, but Harvey dropped in another three at the 1:00 mark and the Brewers held strong down the stretch for the 45-32 lead at halftime.
Both teams got off to a hot start in the third quarter, but it was the Brewers expanding their lead as a pair of three's from Harvey and Lee opened the advantage to 53-40. A layup from Emilija Jakumaite got Skidmore back in with a layup, but another three from Harvey pushed the lead to 58-42 – the largest lead of the day for the Brewers – forcing a Skidmore timeout with 2:34 to play in the frame.

The Brewers lead continued to expand as a Douglas three at 1:47 opened the advantage to 61-42. A layup by Harvey was countered by a three from Skidmore's Andi Levitz to send the game into the fourth quarter with the Brewers up 67-45.

Fourth quarter action was once again a scoring affair as Harvey dropped in her 21st points of the contest, while Gelb drained a pair of shots at the line for a 71-55 lead with 7:06 to play. Levitz sank a three on the other end, but Lee countered with a three of her own as the Brewers cut down the home team momentum with a 74-58 score.

Another Brewers three – this one from Lee – at 4:33 helped push the VC lead to 77-60 and force a Skidmore timeout. Vassar continued to answer down the stretch as Harvey drained another three, followed by a layup from junior Eliza Srinivasan for an 83-67 edge with 2:01 left on the clock. Skidmore took advantage in the final minute, but the Brewers held on for the victory.

Vassar is right back in action on Saturday, heading to RIT for a 2pm tilt. Skidmore is back on the court on Tuesday, January 18, hosting Bard at 5:30pm.