Vassar (1-1) kept in the game, despite a slow start, on the heels of a 23 point, 19 rebound performance by senior center Rachel Cerlen (Florham Park, NJ/Milburn). But every time the Brewers made a run, Jeffreys (Bridgeport, CT/Kolbe Central) had an answer. She tallied 15 points in each half and for the tournament totalled 42 points.
Joining Jeffreys and Cerlen on the All-Tournament Team was Mitchell senior guard Jennifer Inglesias (Sacred Heart/Waterbury), Oberlin freshman guard Monica Zell (Santa Monica, CA/Santa Monica) and sophomore guard Shenika Dow from Southern Vermont.
In the championship game, Mitchell jumped out to an early 12-2 lead and during a first half of end-to-end action, never allowed the Brewers within 10 points and headed into intermission with a 40-26 lead.
The second half would be an entirely different 20 minutes. The Brewers opened with a 15-4 run to narrow the Mitchell lead to 42-41 following a Cerlen layin with 15:06 to play. Cerlen scored 12 of her 23 points in the second half and was instrumental in VC\'s comeback.
Mitchell was able to turn the game\'s momentum its way over the next eight minutes, building a 56-44 lead on a Jeffreys layup and several turnovers during this stretch by the Brewers.
Jeffreys quickness on the exterior and her ability to penetrate in the lane for key baskets was Mitchell\'s answer to a Vassar team that kept charging back each time the Pequots built a double-digit lead.
Despite its repeated attempts with both Cerlen and a frontline of freshman Emily Haeuser (South Portland, ME/South Portland) who scored 13 points with 6 rebounds and sophomore Shannon Fuhr (Simsbury, CT/Simsbury) who chipped in with 10 points and 6 rebounds, the Brewers couldn\'t swing momentum back in their favor.
The Brewers will be back in action on Tuesday, November 21 with an away game at Hunter College at 6:00 pm.
In the consolation game, Oberlin College evened its record to 1-1 on the season with a 56-53 win over Southern Vermont (0-2).
Southern Vermont, which got 52 of its 53 points from freshman guard Jaleesa Marshall (Waterbury, CT) and sophomore guard Shenika Dow (Raleigh, NC), with 32 and 20 respectively, continued to claw its way back into the game throughout the second half, pulling within four points, 54-50, with 2:15 to play. Two free throws by Marshall with 43 seconds to play made it 54-52 and ten seconds later the Mountaineers caused a turnover, took over possession, but gave the ball back to Oberlin on a turnover. Junior forward Roneisha Kinney (Cleveland, OH/Rhodes) made one of two free throws to increase the lead to 55-52 and Oberlin fouled Dow with one second to play who made one of two.
Trailing at half 31-22, Southern Vermont got within two points (31-29) with 18:30 to play with increased pressure on the defensive end and quickness on offense. Oberlin was quick to stem to momentum and answered by pounding the ball inside with junior forward Roneisha Kinney (Cleveland, OH/Rhodes) and freshman forward Liz Thompson (Indianapolis, IN/Brebuef Jesuit). Midway through the second half, Oberlin increased its lead to 45-32 on a three-pointer by freshman guard Monica Zell (Santa Monica, CA/San Monica). Zell finished with 16 points on five three-pointers.
In a first half that saw Oberlin take control with a balanced attack (eight different players scoring), the Yeomen maintained six-to-eight point leads throughout, the largest margin coming at 31-21 with 59 seconds left on a free throw by senior center Jessie Oram (New York, NY/Beacon). Oram finished the game with 10 rebounds and nine points. Southern Vermont kept within striking distance during the first half thanks to Marshall and Dow who combined for 21 of the Mountaineers\' 22 points and 8 of their 16 rebounds.
Oberlin held a distinct rebounding advantage, 69-38. Southern Vermont forced the Yeomen into 39 turnovers but couldn\'t capitalize, shooting just 24 percent from the field. Oberlin shot 23 percent from the floor but was able to convert its second chance baskets into points.