Mount Comes Out On Top In Late Thriller With Vassar

By Kyle Teixeira

NEWBURGH – The Mount Saint Mary College women’s basketball team earned its fourth straight win in a late thriller with Vassar College.

Mount Saint Mary was currently riding a 3-game heater heading into their home match-up with Vassar College, whom they have only beaten once before. Angelina Donato was the first to score for the Knights, getting rewarded by Maggie Trinkaus after her steal. Donato had her best performance of the season today, scoring 16 points, including 4 straight three pointers. The Mount attacked the Brewers inside early and often, finding cutters to get good looks at the rim and draw fouls. Brianna Guglielmo, the game’s leading scorer, scored the last 6 points of the quarter for the Knights, helping give them a 16-15 lead after the first quarter.

Angelina Donato hit a three to start the second quarter, but this was the only points Mount Saint Mary would score in the first four and a half minutes, allowing Vassar to gain a 25-19 advantage. The Knights would quickly get back into it, as Maggie Trinkaus scored or assisted on the next 3 made baskets. Freshman guard Reese Mayer is slowly but surely gaining her footing at the collegiate level, getting better each game as the primary ball handler in the Knights’ offense. She has scored a new season-high in points in back-to-back games, as her two made free throws before the half gave the Mount a 34-31 lead.

The Knights got off to a solid start to begin the second half, taking a 39-31 lead. Vassar was able to stay in the game with their three-point shooting, as the Mount continued to work the ball down low. Sara Cashin has been a force on the offensive glass this season for Mount Saint Mary, leading the team in offensive rebounds with 24 and adding 4 more today. The Brewers cut their deficit to just 3 late in the quarter, but 2 threes from Angelina Donato in the final minute gave the Mount a 54-47 lead heading into the fourth.

Vassar opened up the quarter strong; however, the reigning Skyline Tournament MVP, Brianna Guglielmo, proved why she is one of the best players in the conference, scoring 10 of her game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter. The match stayed tight throughout the final 10 minutes with Mount Saint Mary having an answer to every score from the Brewers.

The Knights’ lead forced Vassar to foul late in the game, as the Mount was able to come up huge in clutch time, knocking down their free throws. Up 72-68 with 13 seconds left, Mount Saint Mary put the clamps on, not allowing the Brewers to get a good look at the rim and coming away with a 4-point victory to extend their win streak to 4 games.