Game Highlights
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Senior
Elly Vaughan hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to lead the Union College women's basketball team to a huge 48-45 victory over Vassar College on Saturday afternoon at Viniar Athletic Center.
In a game defined by defense on both sides, it turned out that the last team to have the ball earned the win. After the Brewers' Jackie Cenan tied the game at 45 with less than eight seconds remaining, the Dutchwomen inbounded to sophomore
Amber Raisner. Without the benefit of a timeout, Raisner dribbled to half court before finding Vaughan alongside the sideline, and the senior banked home a three as the buzzer sounded to give Union (6-7, 3-4 Liberty League) a big victory.
Vaughan filled up the stat sheet on the day for Union, finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds, seven steals, four assists and a block. She also played the final 7:20 of the game with four fouls, as she continued to provide excellent defense while giving herself a chance to be on the court at the end.
Fellow senior
Joana Santos led all players with 14 points and added six rebounds, while sophomore
Anna Metcalf came up with several big buckets down the stretch to finish with 11 points. Cenan led Vassar (9-5, 5-2 Liberty League) with 10 points and seven boards.
Things did not look good for the Dutchwomen after a pair of free throws put Vassar up 36-27 with 7:20 in the contest, but the home team did not quit. Metcalf hit a jumper to get within five, then grabbed an offensive rebound and immediately sunk a three to make the score 36-32 with 5:51 left. Union got within two on four occasions over the next four minutes, and it was a one-point game after a free throw by sophomore
Laura Vinton with 1:48 left.
The Union defense stepped up again after that by forcing a Vassar miss and a turnover, with a Vaughan steal leading to a trip to the charity stripe for Raisner with 35 seconds remaining. The sophomore calmly sunk both freebies to give Union its first lead of the quarter at 44-43. Metcalf added a block on the Brewers' next possession and Raisner hit 1-of-2 from the line to make it a two-point game with 19 ticks left, which set the stage for Cenan's big shot and Vaughan's even bigger one.
Saturday's game was a defensive clinic for both teams, as Union limited a Vassar offense that entered the day averaging 71.5 points per game to 18-of-58 shooting and 19 turnovers. Union shot 35.4 percent (17 of 48) from the field, but hit 6-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter to pick up the win.
The first half did not feature much scoring, as both teams showcased their defensive prowess. The squads combined to shoot just 14-of-57 from the field and the defenses caused a total of 21 turnovers. Union led for most of the opening two quarters until the final minute, as Vassar scored the final four points to take a 17-16 lead into halftime.
The Dutchwomen look to keep the momentum going on Friday, when the team travels to Ithaca for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff with the Bombers.
