Vassar Brewers Women Power Past Skidmore, 75-64

By Amie Canfield

POUGHKEEPSIE – Powered by a game-high 28 points from senior captain Dani Douglas, the Vassar College women’s basketball team defeated Skidmore College, 75-64, in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon. The victory – which marks the team’s 11th straight win – moves the Brewers to 16-6 overall and 15-1 in league play. The Thoroughbreds are now 13-8 and 8-8 in the Liberty League.

Skidmore came out firing in the opening quarter, taking a 16-12 lead into the second frame. It was the Brewers who quickly bounced back as a Douglas three-pointer at 6:24 gave Vassar the 24-22 advantage. That three marked the first of four straight as Douglas added another, while rookie Julia Harvey also poured in two to lift VC to the 33-22 advantage with three minutes remaining in the quarter. Skidmore’s Cassie Davidson drove the deficit back down to six at the 1:33 mark, but a layup and one at the line from Harvey sent the Brewers into the intermission up 36-27.

Third quarter action saw the Brewers continue to find the basket, but the visiting Thoroughbreds cut the margin down to eight (42-34) at 5:31. That set off an 11-2 run for the Brewers, aided by three’s from junior Alex Lee and Douglas to build up the 16-point margin (52-36) with 3:19 on the clock. Vassar built on the momentum, opening up a 57-41 lead on another trey by Douglas before a pair of Lee free throws in the final 13 seconds sent the Brewers into the final quarter with the 59-45 edge.

Fourth quarter action saw a layup from Becca Horger close the gap for the visitors to seven (61-54), but another three from Douglas pushed the margin back out once again at 5:48.

Skidmore rallied as Clare Driscoll nailed a jumper, while Kate McCarney dropped in a layup and a shot from the line to make it a 64-59 game with 4:28 remaining in the game. Vassar quickly responded as a three from Lee, coupled with a layup from junior captain Eliza Srinivasan opened the lead back out to 10 (69-59) with 2:47 to go. The Thoroughbreds sank shots at the charity stripe late, but Douglas could not be stopped, adding a three pointer and a pair of free throw makes in the final 1:30 to wrap-up the victory.

In addition to her game-high points, Douglas also added five boards, an assist and a steal. Harvey added 15 points with four boards and a steal, while Lee dropped in 10 points, three boards and two assists. Senior captain Sarah Gillooly added nine points with seven boards, four assists, a block and a steal, while Srinivasan had eight poitns, three boards, four assists, a block and two steals. Junior Emily Tincher finished with a game-high four blocks.
For the Thoroughbreds, McCarney posted 15 points with a game-high nine rebounds to go along with an assist and a steal. Driscoll added 15 points, eight boards, two assists and a block, while Julia Blanck posted nine points, seven boards and an assist. Horger added seven points, five boards, a steal and two blocks.

Both teams return to action this weekend, which marks the final regular season weekend of 2021-22.