Peczuh’s Career Milestone Propels Team to Victory

By Amie Canfield

POUGHKEEPSIE – Senior guard Isa Peczuh scored a game-high 16 points, including the 1,000th point of her career, to lift Vassar College to a 72-42 win over Union College in Liberty League women’s basketball action on Friday at the AFC Gym. The Brewers move to 16-6 overall and 12-3 in league play, while the Dutchwomen are now 9-12 with a 6-9 mark in the Liberty League.

Union got out to a hot start in the first quarter, opening up a 9-4 lead behind a pair of free throws from senior guard Joana Santos. The Brewers countered as junior Skylar Schmid sank a layup, but the Dutchwomen responded once again as junior guard Irelee Ferguson connected with a pair at the line with 1:28 to go. Senior forward Jackie Cenan cut the deficit to 13-11 with a three-pointer at 40 seconds to play, but the visitors headed into the next quarter with the two-point advantage.

A three from Peczuh gave the Brewers the lead (14-13) seconds into the second quarter, but a layup from sophomore forward Laura Vinton propelled Union back into the lead. Vassar quickly found its momentum soon after as freshman guard Alex Lee nailed a trey and senior center Sophie Nick drained a layup for a 19-15 lead for the Brewers.

The two teams continued to trade buckets throughout the frame, but Union continued to keep pace as a bucket from senior forward Elly Vaughan (Milton, MA) pulled the visitors back to within two (21-19) with 5:35 to play. VC poured on the points after that as a three from Nick, along with free throws from Peczuh, a layup by freshman guard Eliza Srinivasan and a shot from the arc by junior guard Ryan DeOrio pushed the advantage to 12 points (31-19) with 1:42 on the clock.

Union answered on a Vinton three, but Cenan countered with five seconds remaining to send the Brewers into the halftime with a 34-22 advantage.

Into the second half of action, Vassar and Union continued to trade shots but the Brewers momentum, opened up a 41-27 advantage for the home team at the 7:20 mark. The Dutchwomen saw freshman forward Sarah Zukowski drain two shots from the line to pull within 43-31, but despite a 13-11 scoring edge in the third, the visitors headed into the final frame down by 10 (45-35).

Fourth quarter action opened with a bang for the Brewers as Lee drained back-to-back shots to open the frame, while a layup from Cenan, coupled with free throw makes from sophomore guard Sarah Gillooly pushed the edge to 53-35 with 8:01 to play.

A momentous career milestone came with 2:11 left to play as Peczuh cut inside for a layup to make it a 70-42 edge. That bucket – her 16th point of the game – was also the 1,000th point of her career, making her just the 12th Brewer in program history to reach the milestone.

Vassar continued to carry that lead into the final seconds of the contest, enroute to their third straight victory.

In addition to Peczuh, who also had three assists, the Brewers saw Cenan add 13 points, six boards, three assists and three steals. Nick poured in 11 points with six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals, while DeOrio and Lee each dropped in seven points.
For Union, Vinton led the way with 12 points, five rebounds and a steal. Raisner added 10 points with four boards, two assists, two blocks and a steal, while Vaughan had eight points with five boards and a game-best three blocks.