Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore guard Whitney Coleman (Etiwanda, CA/Etiwanda) scored a game-high 15 points and senior forward Kristi Baranowski (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) had 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women’s basketball team to a 67-55 victory over Union College in Liberty League action at the Robison Gym.

RPI improves to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in the league with the victory, its first over Union since February of 2005. The Dutchwomen fall to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in the Liberty League.

Both teams came out fired up from the opening tip-off, battling neck-and-neck through the first five minutes, before Union mounted a strong scoring drive. The Dutchwomen led by as many as nine points (14-5) at the 13:53 mark thanks in part to eight first half points from sophomore Rachel Ormsby (Charlton, NY/Burnt Hills).

The Red Hawks, which shot 50.0% from the field in the first half, battled back to close the gap at 16-all with 10:40 left. Rensselaer would lead by as many as seven (27-20) with just 4:30 remaining, but a strong charge from Union, led by a three-pointer from leading scorer Maria Tobin (Schenectady, NY/Bishop Maginn) helped pull the Dutchwomen even for a 32-32 tie at the intermission.

Rensselaer came out dominant in the second half, building an 11-point lead (50-39) near the 13 minute mark. Union’s Krystal Hammond (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) pulled the Dutchwomen to as close as six points (56-50), but Coleman scored RPI’s final eight points to seal the victory.

In addition to Baranowski and Coleman, the Red Hawks got nine points and five rebounds from sophomore Elizabeth Barker (Springfield, MA/Cathedral). Hammond finished with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Dutchwomen, which also saw Ormsby record 10 points.

The Red Hawks return to action tomorrow afternoon against Skidmore (2pm). Union heads to Vassar for a contest against the Brewers (2pm).