Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team relied on a solid effort from its senior class to defeat Skidmore College, 74-62 on Senior Appreciation Day at Robison Gym. With the win, the Red Hawks are now 16-5 overall and 8-3 in conference play. The Thoroughbreds drop to 9-14 and 6-6 in the Liberty League.

The Red Hawks, who came in to the game riding a two-game winning streak, set the tone early in the opening half, going on a 14-2 run through the first eight minutes of the contest, including five points from senior guard Kerry Hayes (Nashua, NH/Nashua North).

Down 18-11, the Thoroughbreds cut the deficit to five (18-11) on a Laura Michel (Middle Village, NY/Christ the King) shot, but rookie Hillary McKinley (Quinebaug, CT/Tourtellotte Memorial) answered with a layup on the opposite end to make it a 20-13 Red Hawks lead with 6:57 remaining on the clock.

RPI built up a 10-point lead (26-26) with just over four minutes left, and held a 28-16 advantage before Skidmore found its way back. Sophomore Christine Kemp (Putnam Valley, NY/Putnam Valley) and rookie Megan Gaugler (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) cut the deficit to 30-21, but a shot by senior Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA/LaSalle Academy) with a minute to go, made it a 32-21 lead which the Red Hawks carried into the intermission.

Momentum continued to swing in Rensselaer's favor to open the second half as freshman Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury Regional) scored the bucket and drew a foul for a three-point play and a 35-21 lead.

Rensselaer then went on an 8-2 run for a commanding 43-24 lead, which included four points each from seniors Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) and Elizabeth Barker (Suffield, CT/Cathedral). Despite the deficit, Skidmore continued to find its way to the bucket as Gaugler drained one in the paint to make it 47-31 with 14:29 remaining.

Back-to-back trips to the charity stripe by Charest continued to solidify the RPI lead (64-43) and Coleman pushed it to a 23-point advantage with 6:51 left in the game. The Thoroughbreds attempted to close the gap late in the game, going on a 9-2 run through the final 2:20, but could not complete the comeback.

For Rensselaer, Barker posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds while Charest added a game-high 15 points. Coleman also posted double effort with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Skidmore saw Harper post 13 points and four rebounds while Gaugler finished with 12 points and a team-best five rebounds.

RPI is back on the court on Tuesday evening when it hosts travel-partner Vassar at Robison Gym. Game time is set for 6pm. Skidmore hosts Hamilton and William Smith next weekend.