SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Union's Amy Loya nailed a shot from beyond the arc with 18 seconds left to give the Dutchwomen the lead and the home team capitalized on a pair of late turnovers to beat Rensselaer, 61-58 in overtime in Liberty League women's basketball action on Friday. With the win, Union improves to 10-4 overall and remain the conference leaders with a 5-1 record. The Engineers fall to 7-10 on the season and are now 3-3 in league play.

With the game tied 54-54 after regulation, both teams came out shooting furious, but it was RPI that would push ahead as senior guard Linda Larsen (Kobenhavn V., Denmark/Himmelev) nailed a pair of free throws to make it a 56-54 lead. The Engineers had a chance to add on as Larsen stole the ball, but senior captain Allison Connor (Hudson, NY/Hudson) could not convert. 

Union tied things at 56-all with 2:01 left in the extra session as Lauren McCormick (Hoosick Falls, NY/Catholic Central) drained a jumped. Following an RPI timeout, the visitors were able to regain the lead with 32 seconds as Larsen once again went to the free throw line, sinking both.

But it was Loya's shot with 18 seconds on the clock and solid defense by the Dutchwomen that led to the victory as the Engineers turned over the ball twice in the final eight seconds of overtime, giving Union a chance to build on its lead and secure the victory.

The Dutchwomen, who held a 30-27 lead after the first half, saw their advantage slip away in the second stanza as RPI went on a 7-0 run to take a 34-30 lead at the 17:50 mark. The Engineers continued to hold the lead until 9:36 as McCormick sank a layup for a 40-39 advantage. 

It was a back-and-forth battle from that point on as the team's traded leads right up until the closing seconds of regulation. Junior Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) made the difference late as she sank a jumper with 15 seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 54-all and send it into overtime.

Leading the way for the victorious Dutchwomen was McCormick, who poured in 15 points and a game-best 18 rebounds on the night. Loya (Bethel, CT/Immaculate) added 10 points, while Leah Pepe (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) added eight points, including a layup with four seconds left in overtime.

For RPI, Wetmore recorded a game-best 16 points, adding five rebounds, an assist, a block and two steals. Larsen chipped in with 13 points, incluing 7 of 7 from the free throw line, while Connor added 11 points.

Both squads are in action on Saturday as Union welcomes Vassar for a 2pm contest. The Engineers head north to Saratoga Springs for a 2pm game at Skidmore.