POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Junior guard
Jessica Centore tallied a career-high 19 points, but it wasn't enough as third-seeded Vassar advanced to the Liberty League semifinal with a 71-53 victory over the sixth-seeded Skidmore College women's basketball team Tuesday night at the Athletics and Fitness Center.
Skidmore finishes the season at 9-17. Vassar (21-5) will take on second-seeded RIT in the Liberty League semifinal on Saturday, held at Ithaca College.
Jessica tallied a career-high 19 on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. She added two steals. Seniors
Taylor Ong and
Haley English each added eight points in their final games as Thoroughbreds. Fellow senior
Kayla Mitchell added two points, both on free throws. Skidmore shot 38 percent (22-of-57) from the field in the game, going 6-of-15 (40 percent) from 3-point range.
Isa Peczuh added 26 points, going 8-of-12 from 3-point range. Sophie Nick added 21 points. Vassar shot 60 percent (27-of-45) from the field and 60 percent (12-for-20) from 3-point range.
Centore came out firing for the Thoroughbreds, scoring all 11 of the team's first quarter points. After holding a slim 7-6 lead, Vassar went on a 14-2 run over a period of 6:56, taking a 20-9 lead. Centore ended the first quarter with a jumper from the free throw line, beating the buzzer as Skidmore trailed 20-11 after one.
The 3-point shots started falling in the second as Skidmore chipped away at the Vassar deficit.
Caroline Merguerian and
Kate McCarney combined to hit four straight 3-pointers for the Thoroughbreds, who trailed by just one, 28-27 at the 6:07 mark. The Brewers finished the period with a 9-3 spurt, taking a 37-30 lead into the half. The Thoroughbreds kept pace with the Brewers with the long ball, going 6-of-9 from 3-point range.
Centore got going with a jumper to begin the half and Skidmore brought the deficit to within five, but Vassar answered with an 11-5 run, eventually extending its lead to double-digits at the end of the third quarter (54-41). Vassar turned it on from there, scoring eight straight points to begin the quarter. The Brewers stretched their lead to as many as 22 points, before a late Skidmore run put the final score at 71-53.
