Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Five players scored 10 points or more to lead the Rensselaer women's basketball team to an 83-63 victory over the Albany College of Pharmacy at Robison Gym. With the win the Red Hawks improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Panthers, who drop their first game of the season, fall to 3-1.

An up tempo first half saw Rensselaer take an early lead thanks to 54.5% shooting in the opening frame. An Amanda Brophy (Scitutate, MA/Milton Academy) lay-up with 11:27 to go in the first gave the hosts a 16-9 lead.

Two minutes later junior Kelly VanValkenburgh (Hunter, NY/Colonie) hit three-pointer to close the gap 20-14. The teams then traded baskets, until a pair of field goals by RPI senior Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) expanded the Red Hawks' lead to 28-19.

Panthers freshman Alex Oaks (Oaks, Corner, NY/Midlakes) then hit two shots in a row, including a three-pointer with just under three minutes to go in the half to trim the RPI advantage to 31-26. The Red Hawks, led Coleman and freshman Sara Wetmore (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury Regional), went on a 6-0 run to close out the half with a 43-30 lead.

The second half saw Rensselaer maintain a 10-point lead until just under 10 minutes to play in the game, when a three-pointer by Pam Leonardi (New Milford, NY/Medina) and a lay-up by Amber Batzold (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) trimmed the deficit to 57-50.

Seven points was as close as the Panthers got, as the Red Hawks scored 20 points in the last six and half minutes, finishing the game with their largest margin of the game at 83-63.

Four of the five RPI starters scored in double-figures, including Wetmore, classmate Nicole Monroe (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) and senior Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA/LaSalle Academy) who had 14 points each. Coleman finished with 11 points, while fellow senior Elizabeth Barker (Suffield, CT/Cathedral) had eight points and a game-high 16 rebounds.

Leading the way for ACP was Leonardi who scored a game-high 16 points, with six rebounds and four assists. She was followed by Valkenburgh and Oaks who each finished with 13 points apiece.

The Red Hawks return to action this weekend, when the take part in the Emmanuel College Tip-Off Tournament in Boston. They face Salve Regina on Saturday (12pm) and either the hosts from Emmanuel or Randolph College on Sunday (TBA). The Panthers will play in the Buffalo State Tip-Off this weekend, where they open play against the hosts From Buffalo State on Saturday (6pm).