Box Score

TROY, N.Y. - Freshman Jen Rock hit the game-winning jumper from 15 feet as time expired and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team defeated William Smith College, 52-50, in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena.

RPI gained its final possession when Rock (Byfield, MA/Triton Regional) stole the ball with the score tied, 50-50. Following a Rensselaer timeout, Rock collected a pass from senior Lauren Hayes (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia) and nailed the shot for the win.

With the victory the Engineers, who trailed the entire second half until the final basket, improve to 11-7 overall and 5-4 in the league. The Herons fall to 8-8 and 4-3.

William Smith held a 27-26 lead at halftime and then built upon that in the second half, eventually holding a 9-point edge, 43-34, midway through. The teams traded baskets for the next five minutes and the Herons lead, 48-42 with 5:41 remaining. RPI then went on an 8-2 run with balanced scoring to tie the game at 50-50 with under a minute left.

Rock finished with a 13 points and eight rebounds - both team-highs - along with three assists and a steal. Senior Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury Regional) added 10 points, while Hayes finished with four points, four assists and five rebounds.

Freshman forward Chloe Hayter (Lititz, PA/Warwick) paced the Herons with a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds, including an offensive board with 37 seconds left in the second half for a potential final possession. Sophomore guard Sasha Borenstein (Agoura Hills, CA/Agoura Hills) led the visitors with 14 points. She had four 3-pointers, including three in the first half.

Wililam Smith made 10 of its 34 shots attempts (33%). RPI connected on 11 of 34 shots (32%) in the first half.

Rensselaer travels to Schenectady to play Union College on Saturday at 2pm. William Smith is in Saratoga Springs to face Skidmore College, also at 2pm. Both games are Liberty League contests.