Basketball team wraps up season

This weekend the men's and women's basketball teams concluded their 2009-2010 seasons. The men's team finished the season 2-23 (0-14 in Liberty League play), while the women went 9-15 (5-9 in League games).

The men's basketball team started the season off with a 78-66 win over Endicott College, thanks in large part to a career-high 37 points from guard Caleb McGraw '12. In their next outing, on Nov. 20, McGraw and forward John Donnelly '13 each scored 18, with center Chris Whitney '11 notching a career-high 12 rebounds to lead Vassar to the finals of its tip-off tournament against then no. 5 Richard Stockton College, a game the Brewers would drop 91-62.

Following Vassar's hot start, the team often found itself outmatched by larger opponents and dropped contests to several top teams, including current no. 2 nationally Williams College and Division 1 College of William and Mary.

Next year, Vassar will return five players who averaged over 20 minutes per game, including starters Jon Herzog '13 and Donnelly. Rounding out that group are Whitney, McGraw and guard Nick Justiz '12. McGraw (16.9 points per game [ppg]), Donnelly (10.0 ppg) and departing Casey Black '10 (11.4 ppg) all averaged in double figures for the Brewers.

The women's basketball team recently completed one of the most successful seasons in the program's history. The team's five Liberty League wins are tied for the most in school history with those of the 2000-2001 team. It is also the most wins overall in a single season since that year.

This season, the Brewers were led by Emily Haeuser '10 (15.2 ppg, 8.5 rebounds per game), who departs Vassar with her name all over the College's record books. Haeuser is now the school's leader in rebounds (866), blocks (167) and fourth in points (1,273). In addition to Haeuser, Brittany Parks '12 (13.9 ppg, 35.6 minutes per game [mpg]) and Kristyn Tempora '12 (9.0 ppg, 31.9 mpg) as well as Tori Chaltain '13 (34.2 mpg) were huge for the Brewers.

Like the men's team, the women's squad started off hot, winning two of their first three games, including a 95-89 track meet with Centenary College. However, for Vassar, the true accomplishments began in League play.

Vassar started off 2-0 in the Liberty League for the first time in program history, earning a win against eventual playoff team St. Lawrence University. In addition to this accomplishment, Vassar beat Union College for the first time in team history, achieving this feat, twice.

The women's basketball team will return a very young, but experienced, group. Of the 10 members of this year's roster, just one is graduating, and just one will be a senior next year, guard Carolyn Crampton '11. Both of the team's returning captains will be juniors next year, ensuring them two more years of play on Vassar's courts. Meanwhile, this year's six freshmen will be back next year with increased experience.

Of the Brewers nine conference losses, five were by single digits and two were in overtime, showing just how competitive Vassar was this year. Perhaps no games were more heartbreaking than the final two, a 58-52 defeat at the hands of Hamilton College and a 70-63 double overtime loss to William Smith College.

The Brewers entered their final weekend with a chance at the playoffs. Had Vassar beat Hamilton, they would need just one more win and a Hamilton loss to reach the Liberty League tournament; however, the Brewers could not quite overcome Hamilton dropping the game by six points.

Next season, each basketball team will graduate just one senior, although it will be a substantial absence for both. Still, the experience gained by all of the young Brewers this year will serve them years down the line as they compete on the court at the Athletics and Fitness Center.