Box Score

MEDFORD, MA – Five Red Hawks scored in double figures, led by 15 points off the bench from freshman guard Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamongo, CA), in an 81-73 women’s basketball victory over Wellesley College at the Second Annual Tufts University Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

RPI (1-0) got up big in the first half with leads of 18-6 and 26-14, but Wellesley stormed back into the game and took a 37-35 lead late in the first half. A jumper by Coleman in the closing seconds of the half gave the Red Hawks a 38-37 advantage at intermission. Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA) had 10 points at the break for RPI, while Wellesley senior co-captain Laura Weslander (Mendota Heights, MN) had 11 points.

Wellesley built a lead of six points early in the second half, 49-43, on a three-pointer by senior Catherine Romasco (Sutton, MA) at 16:57. They held the advantage or the game was tied for the next three minutes until the Red Hawks ran off 14 straight points to lead 69-56 at 9:03. Coleman had six points during the run, including a 4 for 4 effort at the free throw line.

Wellesley again got back into it, cutting the margin all the way down to three points (75-72) on two free throws by Kristin Doeberl (West Redding, CT) with 1:47 remaining. The Red Hawks were able to do the job at the foul line over the remainder of the game, hitting all six of their attempts, to close out the victory.

Coleman was also RPI’s leading rebounder with six. Charest finished with 12 points, while the trio of starters Missy Jackman (Danvers, MA), Tory Lyons (Feedings Hills, MA) and Destany Eagles (Conway, SC) scored 10 points apiece. Jackman added five steals. RPI won the battle of the boards, 47-39, and was six for seven from three-point territory.

Doeberl was the game-high scorer with 20 points for Wellesley, connecting on six of 10 shots. The senior co-captain also had seven rebounds and three assists. Weslander finished with 16 points and junior Sefi Adasi (Rockville, MD) put up a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Wellesley will play Suffolk in Tufts Invitational action on Sunday at noon. RPI heads home after Friday night’s action was postponed due to a mix up with the officiating crew.