Brewers Ground Herons, Push their Streak To Six

POUGHKEEPSIE – Junior Tova Gelb led three Brewers in double-figures with a game-high 17 points as the Vassar College Women’s Basketball team won its sixth straight contest following a 75-52 home victory over William Smith Saturday afternoon.

Saturday’s win moves Vassar to 7-1 overall on the season and to 2-0 in Liberty League play while giving it its seventh straight victory over William Smith.

First Half
Vassar trailed by as many as four points in the first quarter after a Molly Walsh three-point play put the Herons in front 10-6 with 5:20 left in the period.

After the Walsh conversion, William Smith was held to just five points the rest of the quarter, as Vassar ripped off an 11-5 spurt to close the frame to carry a 17-15 advantage into the second quarter.

Vassar shot 53.3-percent in the opening stanza, but was outscored from the charity stripe 5-0.

The two teams traded the lead five times in the early stages of the second quarter before a 15-6 stretch from the Brewers, capped by a Mo Regan triple, pushed the Brewers in front 34-26 with 3:57 left before halftime.

The Brewers’ lead reached double-figures for the first time on a pair of Julia Harvey free-throws and grew to 42-28 following a Gelb layup at the second quarter horn.

Vassar converted at 38.1-percent in the second quarter and finished the half shooting 44.4-percent overall.

William Smith shot 45.5-percent in the second stanza and went into the break converting at 43.5-percent.

Second Half
Vassar came out of the break and scored the first 12 points of the third quarter and did not allow William Smith to score until the 2:42 mark of the period.

A Maddie Ahearn three-pointer pushed the Brewers’ lead to 54-28 before Vassar carried a 54-34 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Vassar went just 3-for-12 from the floor in the third frame, but hit on a three and converted five free-throws. ‘

The Herons were held to a 2-for-15 effort from the floor coming out of halftime.

The Brewers would not allow their lead to slip below 17 points over the final quarter and matched the game-high 28-point advantage with 59 seconds left when Ashley Mostrom converted a layup to give Vassar a 75-47 advantage.

Vassar went 8-for-14 from the field in the fourth quarter, including a pair of three-pointers and closed the second 20 minutes shooting 42.3-percent.

William Smith was held to 22.6-percent shooting after halftime.

For The Brewers
Gelb has reached double-figures in all eight games to date for Vassar following Saturday’s 17-point performance. Gelb finished 7-for-14 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from behind the arc, to go along with five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Harvey contributed 16 points, five rebounds, a team-high five assists and two steals.

Naiya Kurnik reached double-figures with 10 points, going 4-for-4 from the floor with a pair of triples.

Regan came off the bench to chip in nine points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.

Caroline Siekman scored six points, hauled in seven rebounds and handed out two assists.

Bella Tawney led the team with eight rebounds and added four points, three assists and a pair of steals.

For The Herons
Brooke Jarvis led the team with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Maddie Patrick finished with a team-high three assists to go along with five points and two blocks.

Vassar continues Liberty League play at home on Wednesday when it hosts Skidmore.