Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Senior Courtney Hines (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) nailed a pair of free throws with less than four seconds to play to lead the SUNY Brockport Women’s Basketball team a hard fought 64-61 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the first round of the RIT Thanksgiving Tournament Saturday at Clark Gymnasium in Rochester.

Brockport (2-1) trailed by two points at 54-52 with 4:09 to play in the second half before Kim Schon (Lockport, NY/Lockport) hit a 12-foot jumper to tie the game and then hit two layups over the next 2:30 to give the Golden Eagles a three-point lead with less than a minute to play. Christine Princehorn (Rush, NY/Rush-Henrietta) and Ashley Broadhurst (Sauquoit, NY/Utica Notre Dame) each hit a pair of free throws over the next 30 seconds but RPI (1-3) stayed close with 3-pointers by Missy Jackman (Danvers, MA/Danvers) and Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA/LaSalle Institute). The second 3-pointer brought the Red Hawks to within a point at 62-61 with 23 seconds remaining.

Broadhurst was fouled on the inbounds play but missed the front end of a one-and-one to give RPI another chance to take the lead late in the game. The Brockport defense forced a turnover with seven seconds left and Hines was fouled off the inbounds pass to stop the clock with 3.8 seconds to play. Hines connected on both free throws to push the Brockport lead to three points and a last second 3-point shot by RPI fell short to end the game.

Junior Brenlyn Campbell (Williamsville, NY/Lewiston-Porter) scored half of her team-leading 20 points in the first half to keep the Golden Eagles in the game as Brockport trailed by 5-points at 26-21 at the intermission. The Golden Eagles struggled from the field hitting just 26.5% in the opening half. The team improved in the second half with nearly 50% shooting to more than double its scoring output with 43 second half points.

Smith finished with 12 points and Schon chipped in 10 for the Golden Eagles. Schon led the team with seven rebounds and Campbell added six as Brockport lost the rebounding battle 44-38 but forced 24 RPI turnovers and gave the ball up just 14 times.

For Rensselaer (1-3), senior Tory Lyons (Feeding Hills, MA/Agawam) had a team-best 18 points with 10 rebounds. Jackman added 15 points while junior Kerry Hayes (Nashua, NH/Nashua) had 11 points and six rebounds.

The Red Hawks battle the host Tigers tomorrow afternoon at 3pm. Brockport will take on D’Youville in the early game.