Jenny Scudder hit a jumper with 1:25 left to play leading the St. Lawrence University Women's Basketball team to a 59-56 victory over Vassar College Friday night in the Liberty League opener for each team in Burkman Gymnasium in Canton.
Scudder's basket gave her 11 points to co-lead the Saints (7-2 Overall, 1-0 Liberty League) with Cara Waterson who scored six of her 11 points in the second half.
St. Lawrence led by seven points after a quarter (17-10) but Vassar (2-7, 0-1 Liberty League) battled back closing the gap to as little as two points on several occasions in the second quarter. The Saints were able to hold the lead and took 31-27 advantage into the halftime intermission.
The Brewers opened the second half with quick baskets and tied the score at 33-33 just one minute into the third quarter.
With Vassar leading by two points, Waterson sparked a 10-0 St. Lawrence run that included a Caroline Dalton 3-pointer, an Ellie Gonyeau layup and a Sarah Thomas basket as the Saints took a 43-35 lead midway through the quarter.
A late 3-pointer by Vassar trimmed the lead to five heading into the final period.
After Waterson drained another 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter, the Brewers went on a 7-0 run to get back to within a basket. The game was tied at 54-54 with 4:56 left. Scudder connected on a pair of free throws and then nailed the jumper to put the Saints up four at 58-54.
Vassar missed a pair of free throws over the next minute that could have tied the game and Dalton made it a three-point advantage with 1-of-2 from the line with two seconds remaining. A last second 3-pointer was off the mark for the Brewers that would have sent the game into overtime.
Scudder and Waterson each scored 11 points to lead the Saints while Dalton added nine and Gonyeau chipped in eight for St. Lawrence. Lauren Quattrocchi scored four points and a team-leading nine assists and Dalton led the team with 12 rebounds.
The Saints continue the opening weekend of Liberty League play against Bard at 2 pm Saturday.
