For much of the first half, the game remained a defensive struggle with neither team able to pull away. Riding the hot shooting of junior guard Natalie Serkowski (Clinton Corners, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) Vassar was able to hang with the speedy Dutchwomen.
In the first half, Serkowski scored 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range.
The key point in the game came with 2:02 left in the first half and Union clinging to a 22-18 lead. Union sophomore forward Tara Pezze (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) went to the free-throw line to shoot two. After making the first, Pezze bricked the second off the rim. Cunningham (Clarksburg, MA/Drury) grabbed the rebound and kicked it out to junior guard Erika Eisenhunt (Mohwak, NY/Mohawk) who drained a three pointer for a 26-18 lead.
The possession would key a 14-2 run to end the half, and send Union into the break with a 33-20 lead.
The Dutchwomen shot an exceptional 15-of-27 (55.6%) in the second half to never let the Brewers get back in the game. A balanced scoring attack saw eight Dutchwomen register at least five points, with sophomore guard Melissa Mara dishing out 5 assists to go along with 7 points.
Serkowski led the Brewers in scoring with 12 points while sophomore center Rachel Cerlen (Short Hills, NJ/Milburn) pulled down a game high 7 rebounds to go along with 8 points.
Vassar wraps up its home schedule tomorrow when it plays Liberty League opponent Skidmore. Meanwhile, Union travels to RPI. Both games are at 2 p.m.
Union College vs VASSAR 2/11/05 6:00 pm at Poughkeepsie, NY UNION COLLEGE 71, VASSAR 36 UNION COLLEGE (16-5, 9-2) Katlyn Cunningham 6-8 2-4 14; Krystal Hammond 3-6 3-4 9; Melissa Marra 2-6 1-2 7; Erika Eisenhut 1-4 3-4 6; Tara Pezze 2-3 2-4 6; Devon Ciliberto 3-5 0-0 6; Stephanie Garrison 1-3 3-4 5; Sarah Krammen 2-4 0-0 5; Emily Scott 2-2 0-0 4; Courtney Shepard 2-5 0-0 4; Kara Tehan 1-2 0-0 3; Eileen Lowry 1-4 0-0 2; Alyssa Nugent 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 14-22 71. VASSAR (5-15, 1-9) Natalie Serkowski 4-9 2-6 12; Rachel Cerlen 2-7 4-4 8; Meredith McGair 2-10 0-0 4; Melissa Jones 1-5 0-2 3; Chelsea Katzenberg 1-3 0-0 3; Erin Harper 1-4 0-0 2; Andrea Jergesen 0-1 2-2 2; Elise Okosami 1-2 0-0 2; Acacia O'Connor 0-1 0-0 0; Alison McSheehy 0-4 0-0 0; Sarah Porter 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 12-47 8-14 36. Union College................. 33 38 - 71 VASSAR........................ 20 16 - 36 3-point goals-Union College 5-16 (Melissa Marra 2-4; Erika Eisenhut 1-3; Kara Tehan 1-2; Sarah Krammen 1-3; Courtney Shepard 0-1; Eileen Lowry 0-3), VASSAR 4-16 (Natalie Serkowski 2-3; Chelsea Katzenberg 1-1; Melissa Jones 1-2; Erin Harper 0-2; Andrea Jergesen 0-1; Alison McSheehy 0-2; Meredith McGair 0-5). Fouled out--Union College-None, VASSAR-None. Rebounds-Union College 38 (Katlyn Cunningham 6), VASSAR 19 (Rachel Cerlen 7). Assists-Union College 20 (Erika Eisenhut 6), VASSAR 10 (Erin Harper 6). Total fouls-Union College 12, VASSAR 16. A-100