Box Score Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Sarah Wetmore hit two free throws with under six second remaining in regulation to give the Rensselaer women's basketball team a, 71-70, Liberty League-opening victory over St. Lawrence, at East Campus Arena. With the win, the Engineers improve to 5-7 overall (1-0 Liberty), while the Saints move to 9-2 (0-1 Liberty).

Seconds after St. Lawrence junior Katherine Edgerton (Shelburne, VT/Champlain Valley Union) hit a go-ahead (70-69) lay-up, Wetmore (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury Regional) drove the lane and was fouled, before nailing the ensuing free throws. A three-quarters court heave by Edgerton caromed off the backboard as the final horn sounded sealing the victory for RPI.

Wetmore recorded a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds, while classmate Hillary McKinley (Quinebaug, CT/Tourtellotte Memorial) joined her with team-bests in both points (21) and boards (13). Leading the Saints, was Edgerton, who notched a game-high 28 on 10 of 14 shooting.

The Engineers jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the first 3:40 of play, thanks to four free throws by senior Linda Larsen (Kobenhavn V., Demark/Himmelev) and a three pointer by classmate Allison Connor (Hudson, NY/Hudson).

The visitors pulled to within one on several occasions in the first half, but Rensselaer answered each time. RPI appeared as it would pull away, when it took a 16-point (36-20) lead with under six minutes to play in the half, but a 13-2 Saints run to close-out the frame made it a five-point (38-33) game at the break.

Freshman Katie Abramski (Oswego, NY/Oswego) aided a strong start to the second half as her lay-in gave St. Lawrence a 43-40 lead, just 2:39 into the frame. The Engineers fought back, taking a 54-50 advantage on a basket by junior Nicole Monroe (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) at 11:12.

St. Lawrence took the lead back with 7:52 to play, and led by as much as eight (67-59) with 4:59 left. However, buckets by Larsen and McKinley kept Rensselaer within striking distance, before a Laura Easterling (Ventura, CA/Ventura) three-pointer made it a one-possession game (68-66) with 1:31 to go.

A McKinley foul shot, followed by a driving lay-up by Wetmore put the hosts up 69-68, before the two sides traded leads in the final seconds.

The Engineers return to action tomorrow afternoon, when they host Clarkson at East Campus Arena (2pm). The Saints travel to Poughkeepsie to take on Vassar (2pm).