Box Score

REDLANDS, Calif. – Four players recorded double-digit efforts, including a game-best 18 points from Allison Clark as the University of Redlands defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 80-57, in non-conference women's basketball action on Thursday. The victory moves the Bulldogs to 6-4 overall, while the Engineers shoulder their third straight loss and are now 3-6 on the season.

The Engineers jumped out to an early lead, going up by five (7-2) at 17:01 after a three-pointer by junior Lauren Hayes (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia) and subsequent layups from rookie Kyleigh Oliveira (Agawam, MA/Agawam) and junior Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury).

Another shot from beyond the arc by Wetmore later made it a 13-8 advantage with 14:45 left in the half, but the host Bulldogs came roaring back, grabbing a one-point lead on a jump shot by junior Courtney Carroll (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA/Palos Verdes).

Carroll then sank a pair of free throws following a Brittany Oster (Agoura Hills, CA/Agoura) layup at 11:44 and Redlands continued to press, going up by six (21-15) with 10:53 remaining in the first half.

The Bulldogs opened up their widest lead of the game, 25-17 at 8:46, but RPI continued to fight as junior Nicole Monroe (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) made her jump shot immediately following to make it a six-point game.

Redlands took control nearing the end of the half, leading by as many as 14-points (36-22) with 3:48 remaining. The Engineers tried to pull things closer in the closing minutes, but couldn't get closer than 46-34 heading into the halftime.

Second half action saw the Bulldogs extend their lead to 17 (53-36) less than four minutes in on a layup by Carroll. The home team later held a 57-38 advantage at 12:17 before junior Hillary McKinley (Quinebaug, CT/Tourtellotte Memorial) cut RPI's deficit by two, but a hard press and a pair of free throw makes by junior Mariah Barbetti-Cort (Ventura, CA/Ventura) pushed Redlands to a 20-point (63-43) lead with 7:38 left to play.

Trailing by 24-points with 3:48 remaining in the game, the Engineers attempted to close the gap as senior captain Allison Connor (Hudson, NY/Hudson) and junior Laura Easterling (Ventura, CA/Ventura) both sank layups. Easterling then cut the deficit to 73-54 with a three-pointer seconds later, but the gap proved to be too much as Redlands continued to sink their shots on the opposite end on its way to the 23-point victory.

In addition to Clark (Altadena, CA/Westridge), the Bulldogs saw Barbetti-Cort and Carroll finish with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Oster chipped in with 10 points for Redlands.

Leading RPI was Wetmore, who poured in 15 points in a team-high 32 minutes played. Hayes added 10 points, while Monroe and McKinley each added eight points.

Rensselaer returns to the court on Sunday when it takes part in the Hampton Inn/Naismith Classic, hosted by Springfield College. The action kicks off at 5:30pm as the Engineers take on the host Pride at 5:30pm. RPI will then face either Keene State or Tufts the next evening in the consolation (5pm) or championship (7pm) game. Live stats for the games can be found at http://winus.spfldcol.edu/sports/xlive.htm.