Vassar Brewers are Tripped-Up on the Road With a 48-45 Loss

By Amie Canfield

SCHENECTADY – Senior forward Elly Vaughan hit the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Union College to a 48-45 win over Vassar College in Liberty League women’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Dutchwomen improve to 6-7 with a 3-4 mark in the league, while the Brewers are now 9-5 and 5-2 in the Liberty League.

Vassar owned a 36-27 advantage heading into the fourth quarter, but the Dutchwomen powered back, erasing the Brewers lead with just 35 seconds to play as sophomore guard Amber Raisner stepped to the line after a VC foul and drained both shots to give the home team a 44-43 lead. Raisner added another free throw shot with 19 seconds to play, but Vassar finally connected as senior captain Jackie Cenan’s jumper landed with just seven seconds on the clock.

Union got the ball back and with time running out, Vaughan dribbled to the far corner and laid down a trey with a defender’s hand in her face for the game-winning basket.

For the contest, the Brewers found themselves behind for the majority of the first half, gaining the advantage only twice in the second quarter. Vassar grabbed an 11-10 lead off a Skylar Schmid layup less than a minute in, but soon trailed as Union countered with a short 3-0 run for 13-11 edge.

Sophomore guard Sarah Gillooly drained a jumper with 2:14 to play to cut the lead to one (16-15) and the Brewers gained the lead with 27 seconds left to play in the frame as Cenan nailed a jumper for a 17-16 lead for the visitors heading into halftime.

Second half action proved to be a back-and-forth affair as the two teams continued to keep it close and trade baskets to find themselves tied at 22-all with 5:51 to play in the third quarter. A three-pointer from senior captain Sophie Nick regained the edge for the Brewers and the visitors capitalized on bucket and a free throw from junior guard Ryan DeOrio to grab the 30-24 lead with 3:35 to go.

The Brewers momentum continued to roll into the fourth quarter, but saw their 36-27 advantage slip as sophomore guard Anna Metcalf nailed Union’s first bucket of the frame at 6:25 and then drained a three seconds later to cut the gap to 36-32.

Union kept up the pressure and used a 6-2 run over the final 35 seconds to secure the victory.

The Dutchwomen were led by Vaughan, who had an all-around effort of 10 points with nine rebounds, along with four assists, a block and seven steals. Santos added a team-best 14 points with six boards, while Metcalf added 11 points. Raisner finished with five points, four of which came over the final minute of play.

For the Brewers, Cenan recoded 10 points with seven rebounds, adding three assists and five steals. Nick dropped in nine points and six boards with three steals, while DeOrio had eight points, five caroms, three assists and two steals.