Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Powered by a strong second half effort, the Williams College women's basketball team posted a 74-50 win over Vassar College in non-league action on Tuesday evening. It was the season opener for the Ephs, while the Brewers are now 1-3 overall.

First quarter action saw the Brewers open a 3-2 lead on a three-point shot by sophomore guard Tova Gelb in the opening minute, but the homestanding Ephs battled back, grabbing a 6-3 lead at 7:35 on a jumper from Devin Biesbrock inside.

A layup from rookie center Bella Tawney helped close the gap to two (6-5) a minute later, but Willams countered once again as a pair of layups, including one from Mia Holtze, made it a five-point (10-5) contest at the 5:52 mark.

Gelb answered for the Brewers with another three and rookie forward Naiya Kurnik dropped in a layup to cut it to three (13-10), but an ensuing layup, followed by a three from Biesbrock reopened an eight-point advantage. Vassar got another three from senior captain Eliza Srinivasan at the 1:46 mark, but the home team headed into the second quarter with a 26-13 lead behind back-to-back three's.

Sophomore guard Julia Harvey helped kickstart the offense in the second stanza, nailing a three in the opening minute. The teams traded buckets until the 6:58 mark as rookie guard Maddie Ahearn dropped in another three-pointer to make it a 31-21 game.

Kurnik later dropped in a three-pointer, adding a layup at 5:06 to make it a 33-26 margin. Despite the momentum, the Brewers were unable to hold off Williams over the final minutes as Holtze added a jumper and Arianna Gerig nailed a pair of free throws for a 37-26 lead at halftime.

Out of the half, Tawney dropped in a layup, but Holtze added a three for the Ephs for a 40-28 lead. A layup and a three from Harvey helped later close the margin to 45-33 with 8:08 to play. Biesbrock answered for Williams, but Harvey once again had an answer with another shot from outside the arc at 6:43 (48-36).

Despite a three-pointer from Ahearn in the final 34 seconds, Williams put up 10 points to head into the final quarter with a 59-41 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, the Brewers were unable to hold off the Ephs offense, which went on a 6-0 run to open the frame. Senior captain Alex Lee stopped the run at 6:51, draining a layup inside to make it 65-43. A Srinivasan three-pointer, coupled with another Lee bucket made it 67-48 with 5:20 to play.

The Ephs used solid defense down the stretch, holding the Brewers to just four points over the final 1:56 as Williams wrapped up the victory.

For the Ephs, Holtze recorded a game-high 27 points, going 12-of-21 from the floor. Biesbrock had 14 points, four boards and five assists with a steal, while Gerig dropped in 12 points and three boards with seven assists and six steals – both game-high's.

The Brewers were paced by Harvey, who had 11 points, including a 3-for-4 effort from three-point range and 4-of-5 from the floor. Kurnik added seven points and five rebounds, while Srinivasan had six points with three boards and a game-high seven assists. Lee, Gelb and Ahearn also added six points in the contest.

Vassar returns to the court on Friday at home when it welcomes NYU to the AFC Gym. Game time is set for 7pm.