POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.—The Vassar women's basketball team used a big third quarter to defeat upset-minded William Smith 81-62 this evening in a Liberty League matchup on the road.

Three Herons tallied double-digit points in the setback. Sophomores Amelia McCulley and Giana Lobozzo shared the team-high with 13 points each and combined for nine rebounds and three assists. McCulley recorded a career-high five blocks, moving into a tie for fourth on the William Smith career list with Kathy Burke '92. McCulley has 67 career blocks for the Herons.

Sophomore Miranda Martin chipped in 12 points for William Smith, while senior Molly Walsh added nine points, and two rebounds in the loss.

Vassar was led by Sierra McDermed with a game-high 32 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Tova Gelb also chipped in a double-double for the Brewers with 22 points, 15 rebounds and three assists.

TEAM TOTALS

• Rebounds: Vassar 55, William Smith 31
• Assists: Vassar 12, William Smith 8
• Turnovers: Vassar 12, William Smith 11
• Steals: Vassar 8, William Smith 2
• Blocked Shots: William Smith 6, Vassar 4

HERON STAT LEADERS

• Scoring: Amelia McCulley 13, Giana Lobozzo 13, Miranda Martin 12, Molly Walsh 9
• Rebounding: Ava Lobozzo 5, Giana Lobozzo 5, Bridget McCleary 4, Amelia McCulley 4
• Assists: Amelia McCulley 2, Charlotte Miller 2, Ava Lobozzo 1, Giana Lobozzo 1, Carly Scott 1, McKenzie Mandyck 1
• Steals: Ava Lobozzo 1, Amelia McCulley 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The opening quarter saw a back-and-forth battle between the Herons and the Brewers. William Smith shot 35% from the floor, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc to keep them in the game. Vassar tried to push the pace but was matched by a strong offensive showing by McCulley to keep the Herons within one heading into the second quarter.
• William Smith continued on their momentum into the second quarter as it shot 41% from the floor. Vassar responded with a strong showing on the boards, grabbing 16 rebounds in the second quarter and shot out to a seven-point lead thanks to second chance opportunities. The Herons locked down defensively and continued to impress offensively, clawing their way back into the game. First-year Bridget McCleary hit a deep three pointer as the time expired to tie the game up at 34-34 heading into halftime.
• Vassar came out hot to open the second half and went on a 5-0 run before a layup by junior Faith Okoli ended the Brewers scoring run. Vassar put on an impressive offensive showing in the third quarter, shooting 53% from the floor and outscored the Herons 24-6. The Brewers ended the quarter on a 10-0 scoring run to take an 18-point lead heading into the final quarter.
• The Herons responded well in the final 10 minutes as they shot 53% from the floor for a game-high 22 points. William Smith was matched by a 23-point showing by Vassar as the Brewers shot 57% from the floor. The Herons found crucial points from their bench to spark some late momentum. Despite the late push, Vassar used the clock and its lead to its advantage to close out the conference battle on top 81-62.

FOR THE RECORD

• William Smith falls to 3-21 overall with a 3-14 record in the Liberty League.
• With the win, Vassar moves to 19-5 on the season with a 15-2 mark in conference play.

UP NEXT
 
William Smith will be back in action tomorrow for its season finale against Union. The conference matchup between the Herons and the Garnet Chargers is set for 2 p.m. in Viniar Athletic Center.