Canton, NY – Junior
Sierra McDermed (San Antonio, TX) poured in a career-high 33 points and sophomore
Sophia Ippolito (Cumberland Center, ME) reached double-figures for the first time with a career-high 11 points as the Vassar College Women's Basketball team earned a hard fought 66-60 road win at St. Lawrence Friday evening. McDermed's point total comes within a single point of matching the program's single game scoring record.
Friday's win improves Vassar to 7-4 overall on the season and 3-1 in Liberty League play while giving the Brewers six straight wins over the Saints and four straight triumphs in Canton. St. Lawrence slips to 7-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
First Half
- Vassar opened an early 9-4 when Maureen Regan (Oak Lawn, IL) canned a three-pointer just past the midway point of the opening quarter.
- Vassar maintained the lead until the 2:05 mark of the first period when an Izzy Caron conversion pushed the Saints in front 12-11.
- A Jackie Malley triple pushed the Saints in front 15-11 late in the quarter before an Ippolito three-pointer brought Vassar to within a point through 10 minutes of play.
- The two teams traded the lead in the early going of the second frame before a 14-4 spurt from the Saints, capped by an Elizabeth Flynn free-throw, surged St. Lawrence in front 29-20 with 4:39 left before halftime.
- Vassar responded with a 14-4 run of its own to close to half to carry a slim 34-33 lead at the intermission.
- McDermed scored 11 of the 14 points in the run, with Ippolito supplying another triple that pushed Vassar in front 31-29.
- Vassar finished the opening 20 minutes shooting 32.4-percent overall, but went 5-for-11 from three-point range to grab the halftime advantage.
- St. Lawrence shot 34.9-percent over the opening 20 minutes and was held to a 1-for-17 effort from three-point range.
- McDermed went into the break with 21 points for the Brewers.
Second Half
- Vassar came out of the break with five of the first seven points of the third quarter to grab a 39-35 lead on an Erin Lovett (Norwalk, CT) three-point play 1:28 into the frame.
- The Brewers would not trail again until the midway mark of the quarter when a Malley three-pointer pushed the Saints in front 44-41.
- St. Lawrence would hold the advantage until the late stages of the third frame before Ippolito canned another three-pointer to move Vassar back into the lead, 48-46, with just over two minutes left in the quarter.
- The Brewers spread their lead back out to 50-46 on a pair of Tova Gelb (Sharon, MA) free-throws, before taking a 50-48 lead into the final 10 minutes.
- St. Lawrence would grab a 54-52 lead in the early stages of the final frame on a Hannah Van Dyle three-pointer.
- An Ippolito layup knotted the score at 54-54 and started a 10-0 run for the Brewers that gave them the lead for good in the game.
- McDermed gave Vassar the lead for good with a layup and later converted a lay-in that gave Vassar their largest lead of the game, at 62-54, with 50 seconds left to play.
- St. Lawrence hit a pair of three-pointers in the final minute to pull to within two points, but McDermed went 4-for-4 from the line in the final half minute to secure the victory.
- Vassar went 6-for-9 from the floor in the fourth quarter and finished the second half shooting 44.0-percent.
- St. Lawrence did not make a two-point field goal in the final 10 minutes and went 9-for-33 from the floor after the intermission.
For The Brewers
- McDermed surpassed her previous career-high of 27 points after going 12-for-21 from the floor. McDermed hit a pair of three-pointers and went 7-for-8 from the free-throw line while adding seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
- The 33-point performance is a point off the single game mark of 34 scored by Emily Haeuser against Thomas on November 21, 2019.
- Ippolito reached double-figures for the first time in her career, netting 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting overall and a 3-for-4 effort from behind the arc.
- Gelb rounded out a trio of Brewers in double-figures with 10 points on the strength of a 6-for-6 effort from the charity stripe. Gelb contributed 18 rebounds, one off her career-high, five blocks, matching her career-high, five assists and three steals.
- Lovett chipped in nine points and eight rebounds.
- Maddie Ahearn (Bethlehem, PA) handed out three assists in the win.
For The Saints
- Malley led the Saints with 15 points and added four rebounds.
- Flynn led the way with seven rebounds and checked in with five points and four assists.
- Norah Niesz handed out four assists and scored nine points.
Game Statistics
- Vassar shot 38.3-percent for the game and went 6-for-16 from three-point range.
- St. Lawrence was held to a 31.6-percent conversion rate and went 7-for-33 from three-point range.
- The Brewers outscored the Saints 14-5 from the free-throw line.
- Vassar closed the win with a 30-22 edge in paint points and a 12-10 edge in fast break scoring.
- St. Lawrence held a 14-8 advantage in second chance scoring after posting a 20-11 edge in offensive rebounds.
What's Next
- Vassar concludes its trip to the North County on Saturday when it takes on Clarkson.
- St. Lawrence plays host to Bard Saturday afternoon.
