News Release

HAVERFORD, PA — Tied with Mt. Holyoke, 31-31 at halftime, Vassar's women's basketball team was outscored 18-4 over the final nine minutes, and fell to the Lyons 66-47 in second round play at the Seven Sisters Tournament being hosted by Haverford College.

Vassar will play in the third place game on Sunday at 1:00 pm against the loser of Smith-Swarthmore game.

The Brewers (2-4) had drawn within 48-43 with nine minutes to play following a 3-pointer by junior guard Allison McSheehey (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood), but Mount Holyoke went on an 12-2 run over the next six minutes for a 60-45, putting the game out of reach.

Vassar got a career-high 12 points from freshman guard Ashley Sherman (Hewlett Harbor, NY/Lynbrook) and 11 points from freshman forward Emily Haeuser (South Portland, ME/South Portland). Senior center Rachel Cerlen (Florham Park, NJ/Millburn) chipped in with eight points and 11 rebounds.

The Lyons were led by Joeanna Silvey and Angela Astuccio, who each recorded game-high efforts of 20 points a piece.

The game was closely contested after the first half of play. The lead changed hands 11 times in the first half, as the teams went into the locker room knotted at 31 a piece.

Holyoke distanced itself from Vassar, going on a 10-2 run over the first 3:24 of the second half to take a 41-34 lead. Holyoke slowly built its lead throughout the rest of the half. Astuccio drained a three-pointer with 4:13 remaining in the game to put the Lyons up by 14 at 57-43.

In addition to her 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor, Silvey grabbed a team-high ten rebounds, and forced a game-high six steals. Astuccio grabbed five rebounds, while freshman forward Jessica Olson contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in the victory.

Holyoke's defense held Vassar to 24% shooting from the floor in the second half.

The Lyons will seek their fifth straight Seven Sisters Championship Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., when they take on the winner of the Smith/Swarthmore contest. Vassar will play the loser of that game Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Vassar vs Mount Holyoke
12/2/06 2:20 p.m. at Haverford, PA
At Haverford, PA
MOUNT HOLYOKE 66, VASSAR 47
VASSAR (2-4)
Ashley Sherman 4-9 0-0 12; Emily Haeuser 3-10 5-7 11; Rachel Cerlen 4-10 0-1 8; Shannon Fuhr 2-8 1-2 6; Alison McSheehy 2-6 0-0 5; Melissa Jones 2-8 0-1 5; Elise Okosami 0-0 0-0 0; Emma Carmichael 0-0 0-0 0; Chelsea Katzenberg 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 17-54 6-11 47.
MOUNT HOLYOKE (5-1)
Joeanna Silvey 8-16 4-5 20; Angela Astuccio 7-14 1-2 20; Jessica Olson 5-9 4-5 15; Erin Cain 2-6 0-0 5; Michelle Kowalski 2-4 0-0 4; Kate Shafir 1-6 0-0 2; Kirbi Kidd 0-0 0-0 0; Marisa Barone 0-1 0-0 0; Martha Elson 0-1 0-0
0. Totals 25-57 9-12 66.
Vassar........................   31   16  -   47
Mount Holyoke.................   31   35  -   66
3-point goals--Vassar 7-16 (Ashley Sherman 4-6; Shannon Fuhr 1-5; Melissa Jones 1-2; Alison McSheehy 1-3), Mount Holyoke 7-12 (Angela Astuccio 5-6; Jessica Olson 1-1; Erin Cain 1-2; Joeanna Silvey 0-3). Fouled out--Vassar-None, Mount Holyoke-None. Rebounds--Vassar 37 (Rachel Cerlen 11), Mount Holyoke 35 (Joeanna Silvey 10). Assists--Vassar 8 (Chelsea Katzenberg 5), Mount Holyoke 15 (Erin Cain 5). Total fouls--Vassar 11, Mount Holyoke 15. Technical fouls--Vassar-None, Mount Holyoke-None. A-75 
Seven Sisters Championship Semifinal #1