Vassar Wins Second Straight Liberty League Title

ITHACA – The Vassar College Women’s Basketball team won its second straight Liberty League Championship Sunday afternoon, pulling away for a 66-53 victory at top-seeded Ithaca. Julia Harvey was named the Championship Most Outstanding Player following a 22-point performance in the Championship Final.

Saturday’s win pushes Vassar to 21-6 overall on the season, while Ithaca closes the year at 19-8.

Vassar got off to a strong start, shooting 44.4-percent in the opening 10 minutes.

The Brewers scored five quick points, capped by a Harvey triple, to jump in front 9-4 at the 5:35 mark of the opening stanza.

Vassar’s lead grew to 19-11 on a Tova Gelb bucket with 1:17 left in the quarter, a bucket that capped a 10-2 run for the Brewers.

Ithaca came back with the final four points of the quarter to cut its disadvantage to 19-15 through 10 minutes of play.

Gelb led the Vassar scoring attack in the opening 10 minutes with 11 of the team’s 19 points.

A pair of Anya Watkins free-throws opened the second quarter scoring and pulled Ithaca to within 19-17.

The Bombers grabbed their first lead of the game, at 22-21, on a Watkins layup with 8:34 left before halftime.

After Ithaca moved in front 24-22, Vassar answered with a 9-0 run to pull back in front 31-24 on a pair of Tash Thompson (Los Altos Hills, CA) free-throws with 3:23 of the second frame.

Vassar would go without a field goal in the last 4:39 of the quarter and Ithaca closed the half on a 7-0 run.

Watkins converted a layup in the closing seconds of the second period to send the two teams to the intermission deadlocked at 31-31.

Vassar converted at 35.7-percent in the opening 20 minutes and went 2-for-8 from three-point range.

Ithaca shot 41.4-percent in the first half and went 2-for-11 from three-point range.

Gelb finished the half with 11 points.

Harvey tallied 10 points before halftime and knocked down both of Vassar’s first half three-pointers.

Watkins led all scorers in the first half for Ithaca with 12 points, going 5-for-8 from the floor.

Ithaca started the third quarter with a quick 8-4 run capped by an Emma Waite three-pointer to grab its largest lead of the game at 39-35.

The two teams would trade the lead in the middle stages of the third period before five straight points from Harvey pushed the Brewers in front for good in the game.

McDermed converted a layup late in quarter to give Vassar a 50-44 lead heading into the final frame.

The Brewers extended their lead to double-figures for the first time on a pair of McDermed free-throws that made the lead 54-44 with 7:44 left to play.

A McDermed jumper with 4:40 left matched Vassar’s largest lead of the game at 59-46.

Ithaca climbed back to within six points, but Vassar converted four free-throws in the final minute to spread the lead back out to the final 66-53 decision.

Vassar shot 48-percent overall in the second half and drained four three-pointers.

Ithaca was held to 28.6-percent shooting after the break and made four triples.

For The Brewers
Harvey led all scorers in the game with 22 points after going 6-for 14 from the field and 4-for-7 from three-point range. Harvey closed the win with four rebounds and four steals.

Gelb totaled 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.

McDermed finished the contest with 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Erin Lovett (Norwalk, CT) contributed five points and a pair of rebounds to the winning effort.

For The Bombers
Watkins led the team with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Zoraida Icabalceta totaled 14 points and four rebounds.

Waite finished with 10 points and three assists.

Junie Dickson led all players with five assists and chipped in five rebounds and two steals.