Balanced Scoring Attack Powers Vassar to First Win

POUGHKEEPSIE – Junior Maureen Regan led four players in double-figures with a game-high 16 points while First Year Lindsey Shoulders posted a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double to help lead the Vassar College Women’s Basketball team to a convincing 66-30 home win over Misericordia. Saturday’s win marks the first as a Brewer for First Year Head Coach Carly Assimon.

With the win Vassar evens its overall record at 1-1, while the Cougars fall to 2-3 through their first five games of the season.

After the score was tied at 2-2 and 4-4 in the early going, Vassar closed the first quarter on a 14-2 run to surge in front 18-6 through 10 minutes of play.

Sierra McDermed gave the Brewers the lead for good with a lay-in at the 6:37 mark of the opening period that broke the 4-4 deadlock.

Regan and Sophia Ippolito each canned a triple during the closing run in the first stanza for Vassar.

An Elodie Ware triple and a three-point play from McDermed early in the second frame pushed Vassar in front 24-9 with just under eight minutes left before halftime.

The Cougars would slice the Vassar advantage to seven points twice in the middle stages of the second quarter.

Vassar responded with an 8-2 run to close the first half, keyed by three-pointers from Shoulders and McDermed, to carry a 34-21 lead into halftime.

Vassar converted at 36.8-percent prior to the break and knocked in five first half triples.
Misericordia was held to 27.3-percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes and went 3-for-10 from behind the arc.

Vassar put the clamps on defensively after halftime, allowing just two fourth quarter points and only nine second half tallies to the visitors.

Regan hit a three-pointer to open the third quarter scoring and hit another triple at the 2:25 mark of the third quarter to push Vassar in front 47-25.

Sam Lederman converted from behind the arc in the closing seconds of the third quarter to give Vassar a 50-28 advantage with 10 minutes left to play.

Vassar surrendered just two points, a Raegan Palmer bucket with 6:29 left in the game, over the final 10 minutes.

The Brewers’ lead grew to 30 points on a McDermed triple that made the score 60-30 with 4:25 left to play.

The lead ballooned to the game-high and final 36-point decision on a McDermed layup in the final seconds.

Vassar improved to 39.3-percent shooting after halftime and went 6-for-14 from behind the arc.

Misericordia was held to 4-for-32 shooting in the second half and misfired on each of its 10 three-point attempts.

For The Brewers
Regan scored in double-figures for the second time in as many games to start the season, finishing 6-for-16 from the field with a trio of three-pointers. Regan added four rebounds and a game-high six assists to the winning effort.

Shoulders posted career-highs in in both points and rebounds, finishing 5-for-9 from the floor with a three-pointer. Seven of Shoulders’ 13 boards came on the offensive end.

McDermed reached double-figures for the first time in two games, scoring 15 points after going 6-for-11 from the floor with two three-pointers. McDermed closed a strong day with six rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks.

Ippolito posted a season-high 12 points, connecting on two three-pointers, to go along with two rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Ware closed the win with six points and seven rebounds.

Lederman scored five points and collected two rebounds.

For The Cougars
Ava Cirigliano came off the bench to lead the team in scoring with nine points to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks.

Emily Romanowski collected a team-high 13 rebounds.

Lizzy Mitchell scored five points, secured five rebounds and led the team with three assists.

Chase Purdy produced six points and a pair of steals.