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KEENE, NH -- Despite a game-high 20 points from Ashley Clough (West Chesterfield, NH / Keene), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) fell to Keene State, 81-53, in non-conference women's basketball action on Tuesday evening at Spaulding Gym. With the loss, the Engineers fall to 2-4 on the season, while the Owls improve to 3-2 overall. 

Keene State got on the board first with a layup by Christan Wojtas (Amherst, NH / Soughegan High School), who scored the Owls first five points by adding a 3-pointer a minute later. Keene State extended its lead to 13-8 on back-to-back layups at 14:26, but RPI's Courtney Reynolds (San Diego, CA / Rancho Bernardo) pulled the Engineers to within two, 13-11, with a 3-pointer at 13:29. The Engineers continued to make attempts at a comeback, but were unable to get closer than 13-17 on a Kelly Piotrowski (Schenectady, NY / Schalmont) jump shot at 12:37. The Owls scored six unanswered points before Rensselaer got a trey from Clough with 9:20 left to play in the first half. However, Keene State then embarked on a 14-2 run to take a 37-18 lead before Amanda Lynch (Middletown, NY / John Burke Catholic) ended the rally with a layup at 2:44. Lynch went 1-for-2 from the free throw line at 2:31, but the Owls scored the final six points of the half to head to the locker room with a 43-21 lead.

Kelsey Cognetta (Stamford, Conn. / Stamford) and Clough exchanged 3-pointers to start the second half, before Keene State scored six consecutive points to push its advantage to 52-24. Clough was responsible for the Engineers' next four points, while Lauren Young (Kirkwood, MO / St. Joesph Academy) hit a jumper at 15:36 to pull RPI to within 52-29. Once again, Keene State scored six straight points over a two-minute period, before Zysnia Osepa (Melrose, NY / Tamarac) ended the run with a 3-pointer. The Engineers' next three baskets were also from long range, as two Clough treys sandwiched one from Piotrowski, cutting the Owl advantage to 64-41 with 9:49 to play. Amanda Petrow (Methuen, MA / Methuen) netted the next six points for Keene State to extend the advantage to 72-41 with just over six minutes to play. RPI would struggle to get closer in the waning minutes, with Reynolds scoring the Engineers' final points from the free throw line before Brianna McCain (Hampton, NH / Winnacunnet) scored the final points of the game to set the final score.

Keene State shot 46.2 percent (37-of-80) from the field, while RPI recorded a 32.7 (18-of-55) shooting percentage in the game. The Owls outrebounded the Engineers, 55-28, while also recording 17 steals and forcing RPI into 26 turnovers. Clough was the only Engineer in double-digit scoring totals, while Reynolds added seven points. Kendal Davis (Herndon, VA / Bishop Denis J O'Connell) led Rensselaer off the boards, pulling down five, while Young added five assists, two steals, and four caroms. Wojtas led Keene State with 13 points, while Roberts added 10 points. 

Rensselaer will not return to action until the first weekend in January at the Williams College Tournament.