Photo courtesy of Vassar Athletics
Men’s Basketball
The Vassar men’s basketball team took on the College of Mount St. Vincent on Tuesday night and lost 72-78 in overtime. Sophomore guard Sam Rappaport hit a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining in the second half to tie the game and send it into overtime. The entire game was highly contested, with a second half where there were six lead changes and six instances where the score was tied. The Brewers’ only overtime lead came when senior guard and Co-captain Jon Herzog hit a layup seventeen seconds into overtime, leaving Vassar ahead 64-62. Junior forward John Donnelly had the game-high point score with 23. On Saturday afternoon, the Brewers faced off against Hamilton College and lost 54-69 despite a strong first half. A severe drop in scoring percentages by Vassar—from 41.7 percent hit from the floor in the first half to 34.6 percent in the second—along with a rise in scoring percentages by Hamilton College, from 36.7 percent in the first half to 50.0 percent in the second, left the Brewers crippled. Traveling to Bronxville, N.Y. on Saturday night, Vassar played Sarah Lawrence College in the final road game of the semester and won 78-19. With three Brewers having hit double-digit scores, Rappaport led the charge with 21 points, all 7-7 shots came from beyond the 3-point line. Sophomore Alex Snyder had his sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and ten rebounds, while sophomore guard Curtis Smith had 12 points. Next, the Brewers (4-4) host Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. for their final non-league game, and its final match of the year. The game also marks Student Appreciation Night, and more than 50 athletes and teams will be honored during half time for their 2012 performances. Next semester, the Brewers will continue the winter season with a match vs. Bard College on Jan. 8 at Annandale-on-Hudson at 8 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
On Saturday, the Vassar women’s basketball team faced off against Berkeley College (NY) and won with a score of 72-55. With a career high 16 points from sophomore guard Nyah Berg, the Brewers extended their undefeated record of 6-0 as they defeated the short-handed Knights. Next, the VC women’s basketball team will play Widener University at the Montclair University Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. Another exciting memoment in women’s basketball this week was the perfromance by junior guard Cydni Matsuoka, who has been honored for the second consecutive week and for the third time this season by the Liberty League for her excellent play when she earned an Honor Roll citation. This marks the 12th time in her career she has been honored by the league. In VC’s win over Drew University and Berkeley, Matsuoka scored 19 and 18 points respectively and also shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. So far this season, she has averaged 20.2 points a game while shooting 58 percent from the field, and .559 in 3-pointers. Matsuoka currently is leading the Liberty League in scoring, field goal percentage, assists, 3-point field goal percentage, 3-pointers made per game and assist to turnover ratio. Their first match of 2013 will take place on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. vs. Bard College at Annandale-on-Hudson. Their first home game will be against Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute at 6 p.m. in the AFC.
Women’s Squash
On Saturday, the Vassar College women’s squash team had a tough loss against the Connecticut College Camels at Yale University’s Brady Squash Center. Brewer Seniors Jill Levine and Avery Siciliano went all five in sets with their opponents in the no. four and five spots respectively. Levine had a two-set lead over Camel freshman Alexis DiTomasso 11-9, 11-8 before dropping the third and fourth sets 9-11, 4-11. Despite a hard-fought effort, she fell in the fifth set 8-11. Siciliano likewise fell to her opponent senior Lucy Wallace in the fifth set 10-12. The Brewers’ only wins were by senior Andrea Fahmy who defeated sophomore Myra Jacobs 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 in the no. eight spot, and sophomore Davina Vaid who defeated freshman Alhel Garza 11-6, 11-2, 11-2 in the no. nine spot. The VC women’s squash team will continue play after break when they travel to Haverford, PA for the Haverford College Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 26. They will play Georgetown University at 1 p.m. and Haverford at 3 p.m.
Men’s Squash
On Saturday, the Vassar men’s squash team lost to Connecticut College 9-0 at Yale University’s Brady Squash Center. Senior Jake Harris was competitive in his match against Connecticut’s sophomore Brian Mullen, but ended up losing 5-11, 9-11, 9-11. David Garkinel ’15 also had a close match, but his competitor won 11-5, 11-1, 11-1. More matches will occur when school resumes after break when the VC men’s squash team will travel to Haverford, Pa. for the Haverford College Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 26. They will play Georgetown University at 1 p.m. and Haverford at 3 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) honored sophomore defender Ariel Bridges on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Because of her overall defensive performance, she earned Third Team NCAA Division III Women’s All-East Region honors. After starting in all 16 games, Bridges has consistently shut down the top attackers in the region in the center back position. She had one assist in the Fall 2012 season in a game versus St. Lawrence, which led the team to a 3-2 win in double overtime.