Emily Haeuser becomes 7th to score 1,000

After winning two of their first three games of the season, Vassar lost its third straight women's basketball game last Saturday 54-48 to Brooklyn College in a back and forth affair. The loss dropped the Brewers to 2-4 in their final game of the fall season. Vassar was led by center Emily Haeuser '10 with 14 points, while Brooklyn's Frances Lyons led her team with 23 points. In the first half, both teams had long stretches of individual domination. Vassar started off hot, jumping out to a 14-4 lead behind six points from Natalie Allen '13, including the game's first four. Brooklyn responded with a 14-point run of their own, effectively evening up the game. By halftime, the two teams were tied at 21.

Although each of Haeuser's 14 points was crucial for the Brewers, one stood out above the rest. When she made a free throw with 7:29 remaining in the contest to cut Brooklyn's lead to 46-41, Haeuser became the seventh player in Vassar history to record her milestone 1,000th career point. Following Haeuser's 1,000th point, the game briefly stopped as Haeuser received a standing ovation from all those in attendance. Upon realizing what had occurred, her teammates immediately began jumping up and down in celebration of her achievement. Point guard Brittany Parks '12 said, "It was exciting to see such a dedicated basketball player achieve this well-deserved milestone."

Haeuser, who entered the game with 989 career points, also recorded 11 rebounds in the game. Initially, it seemed as though she might struggle to reach the milestone, scoring just five points in the first half. However, the senior captain showed her leadership skills at a crucial point, with Vassar trying to claw their way back into the game. Haeuser made three straight shots drawing fouls on each of them to record nine points in three trips down the floor. The milestone came on the middle of the three, a hook shot in the paint on a free throw.

Behind Haeuser's leadership, Vassar got back into the game, eventually tying it at 48-48 on a free throw by Carolyn Crampton '11 with 3:31 left to play. Brooklyn retook the lead, 50-48, on a Lyons jumper on the next possession. Vassar could not equalize again, but the tenacious Vassar defense made Brooklyn fight to the very end, only taking a two-possession lead on an Ashley Allen three-pointer with 25 seconds left.
The game saw two double-doubles, with Haeuser recording 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Lyons recording 23 points and 11 boards. Brooklyn's Amber Gordon was close to becoming the third player on that list, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Despite the defeat, Head Coach Candice Brown did not read into this single game too much. "We played hard on the defensive end. We did exactly what was necessary to win the game, we just didn't make shots. We shot the worst field goal percentage thus far. We are continuously getting better, and despite three losses by four, seven and six points, we will experience success this year," Brown said in an e-mailed statement.