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TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer women's basketball team allowed just 16 baskets and Whitney Coleman scored 16 points with 13 rebounds as the Engineers defeated Union, 51-38, in a Liberty League contest at the East Campus Arena.  RPI, which also got 16 points from Allison Connor, improves to 11-6 overall and 6-0 in the league.  The Engineers remain in first place.  The Dutchwomen fall to 6-10 and 4-2.  They were led in scoring by Lauren McCormick's 13 points.

Union got off to the better start in the game, holding leads of 11-4 and 13-6 midway through the first half.  RPI then rattled off 11 straight points, including five from Connor (Hudson, NY/Hudson), and the Engineers didn't trail the rest of the contest.  The first half saw Coleman tally eight points with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals as Rensselaer led 27-21 at the break.  Union was paced in the first half by junior Lauren McCormick (Hoosick Falls, NY/Catholic Central), who had eight points and two rebounds.

The Engineers opened the second half on an 11-1 run, fueled by a balanced attack.  Union closed to within eight points, 42-34 with 5:35 remaining, but would get no closer.

In addition to her 16 points and 13 rebounds, Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) added five assists, four blocks and two steals from her guard position.  Defensively as a team RPI held Union to just 26.2% (16 for 61) shooting from the floor.  RPI made 20 of 66 its shots for a percentage of 30.3%.

For the Dutchwomen, McCormick finished with 13 points and four rebounds, while Megan Clark (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) added 10 points.  Senior guard Rachel Titcomb (Henniker, NH/John Stark Regional) added eight points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

Union returns to the court on Saturday at 2pm at league opponent Vassar.  RPI hosts second place Skidmore at the same time in Troy.