Troy, NY – The Vassar College Women's Basketball team was upended on the road at RPI in a key Liberty League contest Saturday afternoon by a score of 57-39. First Year
Elodie Ware (Columbus, OH) led the Brewers in scoring with 12 points.
Vassar dips below the .500 mark at 10-11 overall with the loss and to 9-5 in Liberty League play following Saturday's result. RPI improves to 15-6 overall and to 10-4 in league play, moving a game ahead of both Vassar and St. Lawrence for third place in the conference standings.
How It Happened
- Vassar got off to a strong start on Saturday, going 7-for-9 from the floor in the first quarter on the way to building an 18-10 lead through 10 minutes.
- The Brewers trailed only briefly in the early going and used a 16-4 run, capped by a Lindsey Shoulders (Glen Allen, VA) conversion, to grab an 18-8 advantage.
- Sophie Costello hit a jumper at the first quarter horn for the Engineers to pull RPI to within 18-10 heading into the second frame.
- After a blistering start to the game, Vassar went just 3-for-12 from the floor in the second frame.
- Vassar maintained the lead until a Molly Libby bucket knotted the score at 20-20 and a Sydney Blaney layup at the 3:48 pushed the RPI run to 14-2, giving the Engineers a 24-20 lead.
- Maureen Regan (Oak Lawn, IL) stopped the run and a better than four-minute scoring drought, pulling the Brewers with within two points with 3:17 left before halftime.
- Vassar cut the disadvantage to 26-25 on a Shoulders bucket with 1:15 left in the quarter, but a Siena Smith lay-in with three seconds left in the half gave RPI at three-point edge at the break.
- Vassar finished the first half shooting 47.6-percent and misfired on its only three-point attempt in the opening 20 minutes.
- RPI converted at 38.2-percent in the first half and went 2-for-11 from behind the arc.
- Vassar would trail throughout the third quarter and would get as close as three points following a Maddie Aheran basket at the 9:13 mark.
- RPI surged in front 43-34 on a Brooke Boyle bucket at the 1:02 mark ahead of a pair of Ware free-throws that cut Vassar's disadvantage to 43-36 heading to the final stanza.
- Vassar would manage just one field goal and three points in the final frame on Saturday.
- RPI held the Brewers off the board until a Ware free-throw at the 6:47 mark.
- Vassar's only field goal came on a Regan layup with just under three minutes left to play.
- RPI jumped in front by double-figures for the first time when Smith canned a triple midway through the quarter.
- The RPI lead grew to the game-high final decision when Smith connected again from long range to make the score 57-39 in the final minute.
- Vassar went just 5-for-21 from the floor after halftime and 0-for-2 from three-point range.
- RPI shot 48-percent in the second half and connected on a trio of three-pointers.
For The Brewers
- Ware reached double-figures for the fifth time on the season with a team-high 12 points on the strength of an 8-for-9 effort from the free-throw line. Ware rounded out the day with three rebounds, a block and a steal.
- Sierra McDermed (San Antonio, TX) chipped in 10 points, collected four rebounds and finished with team-highs in assists with three and steals with two.
- Shoulders scored seven points and led the team with six rebounds.
- Regan totaled six points and handed out a pair of assists.
For The Engineers
- Costello led all scorers in the game with 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting. Costello finished off a big game matching the game-high with four assists.
- Niamh Gendron hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds and added nine points.
- Tyler Hormazabal scored eight points, collected six rebounds and handed out three assists.
- Smith connected on two triples and finished with eight points, five rebounds and four assists.
Game Statistics
- Vassar shot 35.7-percent overall in the game and went 0-for-5 from three-point range, marking the first time the Brewers have gone without a triple in a game since February 21, 2016.
- RPI finished shooting 42.4-percent overall and connected on five three-pointers.
- RPI forced 27 turnovers leading to 24 points off of miscues.
- The Engineers scored the only six second chance points of the game.
- RPI also held the edge in points in the paint, 38-30, and fast break points, 21-6.
What's Next
- Vassar returns home to take on Union on February 13.
- RPI plays host to RPI on Friday.
