Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Three players reached double figures, including an 18-point effort by senior guard Whitney Coleman, to lead Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to a 65-61 victory over Union College in Liberty League women's basketball at Robison Gym on Friday.

RPI improves to 15-5 overall and 7-3 in conference play, while Union, the top team in the league standings, falls to 15-6 and suffers just its second loss in the Liberty League for a 9-2 record.

After a back-and-forth first half, which saw both teams shoot 39.3% from the field, Union came in to the second stanza with momentum and a 29-27 lead. The Dutchwomen led by four before the Red Hawks battled back to tie things at 31-all with 18:48 remaining.

Rensselaer freshman Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury Regional) drained a three at 14:52 and added another bucket just under a minute later to give the homestanding Red Hawks a 41-37 lead with 13:32 remaining, but a six-point effort from senior Michelle Rogers (Clarence, NY/Clarence) put the Dutchwomen up 42-41 with 12 minutes on the clock.

RPI once again regained the lead as Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) and Wetmore combined for an 8-0 run and a 53-50 lead. Union pulled to within one on a Lauren McCormick (Hoosick Falls, NY/Catholic Central) layup, but the Red Hawks caught fire, scoring the next nine points to grab a 62-52 lead with 2:11 remaining.

Unwilling to go quietly, Union once again mounted a comeback as Maria Tobin (Schenectady, NY/Bishop Maginn) sank one of her four three-pointers and McCormick and Leah Pepe (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) added buckets to make it 64-60 with 44 seconds left.

A subsequent foul on McCormick with 22 seconds on the clock led to an Elizabeth Barker (Suffield, CT/Central Catholic) free throw and a 65-61 lead to close out the scoring in the contest.

In addition to Coleman, who also had a game-high four assists and two steals, the Red Hawks saw Wetmore add 17 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA/LaSalle Academy) posted 10 points while Barker had a game-best 15 rebounds.

For Union, Rogers recorded a game-high 24 points, including her 1,000th career point, on 11 of 16 shooting. She also had nine rebounds. Tobin added 14 points while senior Rachel Scott (Colonie, NY/Colonie) had nine points, three assists and two steals.

RPI is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Skidmore at 2pm. That game is Senior Appreciation Day at Robison Gym. The Dutchwomen head to Vassar to take on the Brewers, also at 2pm.