Box Score 

TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore forward Tory Lyons (Feeding Hills, MA/Agawam) scored a season-high 24 points and junior forward Kristi Baranowski (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) recorded a game-best 14 rebounds to lead Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to a 68-64 victory over Vassar College in Liberty League action at Robison Gym.  The Red Hawks improve to 8-4 overall and 2-1 in league play while the Brewers fall to 5-8 and 0-3.

The homestanding Red Hawks jumped out to a 14-point lead (39-25) late in the first half and held an eight-point advantage heading into the break.  Vassar’s Melissa Jones (Winsted, CT/Gilbert School) led all scorers in the first half, tallying 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

The Brewers came storming back in the second half, erasing an eight-point deficit to tie the game at 46-46 at the 17:00 mark.  Rensselaer quickly recovered and built the lead back up to eight mid-way through the half.  Led by Lyons, who shot 8-of-13 in the game, Rensselaer went ahead by as much as 14 points again late in the contest before Vassar battled back to cut their deficit to five points with less than a minute on the clock.

In addition to her 24 points, Lyons posted five rebounds with two assists and three steals in 26 minutes.  Baranowski added 17 points while freshman guard Whitney Coleman (Etiwanda, CA/Etiwanda) chipped in with eight points, five rebounds and three assists in the victory.

The Brewers were led by junior forward Rachel Cerlen (Short Hills, NJ/Milburn), who had a team-high 18 points and a team-best 11 rebounds (3 offensive).  She also added a game-best five blocks and three steals in 25 minutes.  Jones finished with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting and seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, while senior forward Meredith McGair (Cranston, RI/St. Mary Academy-Bay View) added 18 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Rensselaer returns to action this weekend when it hosts Liberty League foes Clarkson (Friday) and St. Lawrence (Saturday) at Robison Gym.  Game times are 6pm and 2pm, respectively.  Vassar is back in action on Friday and Saturday also hosting St. Lawrence (6pm) and Clarkson (2pm).