POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Powered by double-figure efforts from four different players, the Vassar College women's basketball team notched an 89-57 win over Clarkson University in Liberty League action on Saturday. The win for the Brewers, who celebrated their graduating seniors in a pre-game ceremony, moves VC to 12-7 overall and 9-3 in league play. The Golden Knights drop to 7-9 with a 3-7 Liberty League record.

The Brewers held a 39-30 lead to open the first two quarters of play and continued to build on that momentum in the final two periods, using solid defense to hold the Golden Knights to just 27 points over the final 20 minutes. Clarkson got a jumper from Elaina Porter at 8:15 of the third quarter, cutting the margin to nine (41-32), but the Brewers answered as an 8-0 run - aided by a layup and a three-pointer from senior captain Alex Lee - saw Vassar open a 49-32 margin with 5:38 remaining. The visitors got a pair of free throw makes from Bella Doyle, but a layup from rookie center Bella Tawney, coupled with back-to-back layup's from Lee, pushed the home squad to a 21-point advantage (55-34) with 3:55 on the clock.

The Golden Knights took advantage at the line, six out of six shots from the line, including four from Cassidy Dumont, but the Brewers offense could not be contained as rookie guard Sierra McDermed scored eight straight points to close out the third frame fro a 63-42 Vassar lead heading into the final stanza.

McDermed continued her hot streak into the fourth quarter, nailing a layup less than a minute in, before adding another shot inside for the 24-point (68-44) lead at 6:25. The two teams traded baskets late in the frame, including a Dumont layup at the 2:51 mark, but Vassar countered, keeping the double-figure margin behind consecutive buckets from sophomroe guard Tova Gelb for an 80-52 lead with 2:41 on the clock. The Golden Knights added a late jumper by Doyle, but free throw makes from rookie Margo Gramiak, coupled with buckets from classmates Sam Lederman and Caroline Siekman saw the Brewers expand to their largest lead inside the final minute of play.

For the Brewers, McDermed was outstanding, notching 22 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor. She also went 9-of-11 from the free throw line, adding three boards, two assists and a block. Lee notched 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor, dropping in five boards and three steals, while Tawney recorded 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting with five caroms. Gelb also finished in double-figures, adding 12 points and six assists with a game-high four steals while shooting 4-of-6 from the floor. Senior captain Eliza Srinivasan, who was honored along with Lee in the pre-game, posted eight points and a game-best eight assists with a game-high four steals and two boards on the afternoon.

Clarkson was paced by a game-high 24 points from Dumont. She also had five rebounds, an assist and two steals. Porter posted 10 points with five caroms, three assists and two blocks, while Doyle chipped in with nine points and six rebounds with two assists.

The Brewers return to action next weekend on the road, traveling to Bard for a 5:30pm game against the Raptors. The Brewers then travel to Rensselaer on Saturday for a 2pm tilt with the Engineers.