Hot Shooting Propels Vassar Past St. Lawrence

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Vassar College Women’s Basketball team shot better than 55-percent from the field and better than 63-percent from three-point range on its way to a 77-58 victory over St. Lawrence Saturday afternoon. Tova Gelb led a balanced scoring attack with 20 points with Sierra McDermed and Julia Harvey each scoring 19 points.
Saturday’s win moves Vassar to 14-5 overall on the season and 10-2 in Liberty League play, while St. Lawrence slips to 12-7 and 6-6 in conference action.

First Half
A tightly contested first period saw Vassar trail by as many as five points. Hannah Van Dyke pushed the Sains in front 14-9 at the 4:16 mark of the period with a three-pointer.
Vassar finished the quarter on a 7-2 spurt, capped by a Maddie Ahearn bucket in the final half minute of the frame to even the score at 16-16 through 10 minutes.

Vassar broke the game open in the second frame, shooting 62.5-percent from the floor and outscoring St. Lawrence 30-9.

After falling behind 18-16 early in the second frame, Vassar put together a 12-0 run to surge in front 28-18 on a Gelb lay-in with 6:12 left before halftime.

The Brewers later put together a 18-5 stretch to close the second period to pull in front by a commanding 46-25 margin at the intermission.

Vassar went 7-for-10 from the floor over the run with Harvey scoring nine points, including a three-pointer in the closing seconds, to finish off the first half scoring.

The Brewers shot an efficient 56.7-percent from the floor before halftime and went 5-for-7 from three-point range.

St. Lawrence was held to 32.1-percent shooting over the first 20 minutes and went 2-for-6 from behind the arc.

Harvey led all scorers at the break with 17 points, going 6-for-7 from the floor and a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc.

Second Half
Coming out of the break, Vassar quickly spread its lead to 49-25 on a three-point play from Erin Lovett.

Vassar would not let St. Lawrence closer than 16 points the remainder of the third quarter.
St. Lawrence would creep to within 13 points with 6:44 left to play on an Elizabeth Flynn free-throw.

Vassar responded with the next eight points, including triples from Gelb and McDermed, to spread the lead back to 71-54 with 4:10 left.

Vassar’s lead would not eclipse 20 points again in the game, but an Ava Gurley in the final seconds gave the Brewers the final 19-point margin of victory.

The Brewers continued their efficient shooting in the second half, converting at 54.2-percent overall and an even 50-percent from three-point range.

St. Lawrence shot 34.3-percent after halftime, but went without a three-pointer in six attempts.

For The Brewers
Gelb led all scorers in the game with 20 points and posted her 12th double-double of the season with 10 rebounds. Gelb went 8-for-17 from the floor, adding an assist and three steals.

Harvey totaled 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including a 3-for-4 effort from behind the arc, to go along with five rebounds and three assists.

McDermed reached 19 points on the strength of 8-for-11 shooting, including two triples.

McDermed wrapped up the win with six rebounds and a pair of assists.

Lovett finished with eight points and three rebounds.

For The Saints
Flynn led the St. Lawrence scoring attack with 18 points, going 6-for-11 from the floor.

Flynn hauled in six rebounds and swiped three steals.

Mason Baker-Schlendering totaled 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Norah Niesz scored six points and led the team with three assists.