Blue Basketball Comes Up Short Against Vassar

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. --  The Wellesley College basketball team dropped a 64-51 contest to the host school in the championship game of the Vassar College Tip-Off Tournament.

The Brewers move to 3-0 on the season and will next host Drew University on November 30 at 7:00 pm. Wellesley drops to 1-1 and hosts Brandeis on November 22.

Wellesley was unable to capitalize on early Vassar miscues, as the Blue caused 15 Brewer turnovers in the first half. While the first half had five ties and six lead changes, the second half saw Vassar lead the entire 20 minutes.

In the first half, the Blue fought back from an early 7-2 deficit to take a 23-21 lead with 3:13 to play when senior guard Elisha Orama drained a 3-pointer from the right side. The Brewers responded with back-to-back baskets from senior guard Brittany Parks and a top-of-the-key 3-pointer from senior forward Kristyn Tempora for a 26-23 lead with 2:18 until intermission. From that point, Vassar never trailed in the contest. The Brewers led at halftime 28-27 after another Orama basket cut the Vassar lead down to one point.

The Blue hung tough the majority of the second half while Vassar nursed a four-to-six point lead. Wellesley was within 49-44 with 5:20 to play, but over the next three minutes the Brewers doubled that margin thanks to clutch baskets from Parks, freshman guard Nyah Berg and forward Colleen O'Connell. A pair of Berg free throws with 1:45 to play provided Vassar with a 12-point cushion at 60-48.

Vassar was led in scoring by Parks, who was named to the All Tip-Off team following her 19- point outing. Sophomore backcourt mate Cydni Matsuoka was named MVP, highlighted by her 23-point outburst against Wilson in the opening game. Three Brewers all tallied 10 points – Tempora, O'Connell and Berg. O'Connell was particularly strong off glass, grabbing a team-best 12 rebounds.

Wellesley junior Malia Maier earned All Tip-Off accolades following her 14-point, six rebound and five steal outing outing against the Brewers. Also for the Blue, first-year Morgyne Weaver tallied 10 points and sophomore Leslie Leong contributed eight points and eight rebounds. Orama finished the contest with seven points to round out the stat leaders for the Blue. 

Release courtesy Vassar Sports Information