Box Score
Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior guard Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, Cali) knocked down 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the RPI Red Hawks to a 57-46 win over the Emmanuel Saints in the E.C. Invitational championship game on Sunday afternoon. With the win, RPI improves to 4-1 on the season, while Emmanuel fell to 2-1 overall.

The Red Hawks dominated play in the first half, storming out to a 17-6 lead midway through the opening stanza. Rensselaer's defense held Emmanuel to just 23.3% (7-30) shooting in the first half. The Red Hawks took a 17-point lead into the break, holding the Saints to just 16 first half points (33-16).

The Red Hawks quickly stretched their advantage to twenty-two points (38-16), their largest lead of the game at 18:36 on two made free throws by rookie guard Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, Mass.). Emmanuel then exploded, going on a 17-0 run over a six-minute span. The Saints' run was capped by two consecutive three-point plays by sophomore guard Kristin LeBel (Tolland, Conn.), who brought Emmanuel to within four points (38-34) with 12:03 left to play.

Rensselaer bounced back, hitting two three-pointers in the next three possessions, and brought the margin back to twelve points at 46-34 with 9:37 remaining. Junior guard Iman Davis (Toms River, N.J.) kept the Saints' hopes alive. Davis accounted for 18 of Emmanuel's 26 points with just 14 minutes to play.

RPI extended the lead to 14 points (51-37) with 6:38 to go, when Coleman connected on a three-ball with an assist from senior guard Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, Mass.). The Saints surged to within seven at the two-minute mark, but ran out of time. The Red Hawks hit 4 of 8 free throws down the stretch and sealed the win at 57-46.

Coleman led the charge for RPI with 18 points, including 100% shooting from the charity stripe (8-8). Wetmore shot 50% from the floor (5-10) and 100% from behind the arc (2-2), finishing with 18 points and 5 assists. Senior forwards Elizabeth Barker (Suffield, Conn.) and Ellen High (Plaistow, NH) hauled in 11 boards apiece in the win.

Davis finished with a game-high 22 points for Emmanuel. LeBel chipped in with 9 points, while freshman forward Liz Brooks (Charlton, Mass.) collected a game-high 13 rebounds in the effort.

Coleman was selected the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Wetmore was named to the All-Tournament Team for RPI. Davis and LeBel received All-Tournament Team honors for Emmanuel.

The Saints (2-1) will host the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University on Tuesday night (11/25) at 7:30pm. The Red Hawks (4-1) will travel to Norton, Mass. to take on Wheaton College on Tuesday night at 6pm.