Box Score
Box Score

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer women's basketball team fell to St. Lawrence, 54-49, in the semi-final round of the Liberty League Tournament. With the win the Saints improve to 18-7 and move on to the championship game tomorrow. The Red Hawks finish their season 18-7 overall, including a 10-4 mark in conference play.

After a game-opening basket by RPI senior Kerry Hayes, Saints guard Lauren Sischo hit a three pointer, and the second-seeded St. Lawrence never trailed by more than one point the rest of the way.

The Red Hawks were able to pull even twice in the first half, both thanks to the scoring of Amanda Brophy, who finished with a team-high 12 points. She evened the score at 13 with a lay-up in the lane and later gave RPI a brief one-point lead (19-18), with 5:16 to go in the first half.

Senior guard Whitney Coleman put the Red Hawks up one (27-26) with a hoop to open the second half, but she was quickly answered by Saints forward Katie Palmer who was able to connect from short range.

A three-pointer from St. Lawrence's Casey Capello gave the favorites their largest lead of the game at 11 (38-27) with 14:42 to play.

RPI whittled the deficit over the next nine minutes, eventually pulling to within one (42-41), with 5:11 left on a pair of free throws from senior forward Elizabeth Barker.

Palmer pushed the Saints' lead back to three on the ensuing possession. St. Lawrence built its advantage to six, before a 6-2 Red Hawks' run brought RPI to within two (51-49) once again.

Free throws from Sischo down the stretch helped seal the win for the Saints.