Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior guard Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Rensselaer women's basketball team to a 67-45 victory over Colby-Sawyer College, at Robison Gym. With the win the Red Hawks close out their non-conference schedule with an 8-2 record, while the Chargers fall to 5-5 overall.

Coleman's 23 points came on 8 of 15 shooting from the floor, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. She was also a perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line. Classmate Elizabeth Barker (Suffield, CT/Cathedral) chipped in with seven points and hauled in 18 rebounds for the second straight game.

The two teams traded baskets early on, until the Red Hawks went on a 10-2 run to take a 20-15 lead midway through the first half. Freshman Laura Easterling (Ventura, CA/Ventura) capped the rally with a lay-up at 11:10.

After a basket by Chargers' freshman Erin Clarke (Henniker, NH/John Stark Regional) brought Colby-Sawyer to within three at 20-17, Rensselaer went on an 11-2 spurt - including eight points from Coleman - to push its lead to 31-19 with 2:46 to play in the first.

A pair of free throws by Colby-Sawyer junior Terri Duffy (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) cut the deficit to 33-23 at halftime. Duffy provided the scoring for the visitors in the opening stanza knocking down game-high 14 first half points on 5 of 11 shooting. Coleman led RPI at the break with 13.

In the second half, RPI opened with a 13-3 run to take its biggest of the game at 46-26 with 11:08 to play. The run was highlighted by five-straight points from Coleman. After scoring and getting fouled, she made the free throw. A stop and a rebound by classmate Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA/LaSalle Academy) set up Coleman for a jumper from the corner.

Duffy brought the Chargers within 11 points (54-43) on a lay-up with 4:58 to go, but that was as close as they got, as RPI made 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch to secure the 67-45 victory.

Aiding Coleman offensively was freshman Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury Regional) who had nine points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. RPI received 19 points off the bench, including five from freshman Katie Hansan (McLean, VA/Langley).

Pacing Colby-Sawyer was Duffy, who finished with a team-best 18 to go along with seven rebounds. Senior Kayt Racz (Worthington, MA/Williston Northampton) and sophomore Katelyn Stravinsky (Norwell, MA/Norwell) had seven points each, with Racz dishing out a game-high three assists.

The Red Hawks return to the court on January 16 and 17, when they open their Liberty League schedule at William Smith (6pm) and Hamilton (2pm), respectively. Colby-Sawyer hosts Middlebury on Thursday (5:30pm).