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TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team used a 33-10 first half run for a 23-point halftime lead and the Engineers went on to defeat Clarkson University, 69-53, in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The Engineers are now 4-10 overall and 2-3 in the league, while the Golden Knights are 6-6 and 1-3.

After the first seven minutes and with the score tied 10-10, the Engineers controlled play throughout the remainder of the half, outscoring the Golden Knights by 23 points for a 43-20 lead at the break. Rensselaer made 52.9% of its shots (18 of 34) on offense, while holding Clarkson to just 25.0% shooting (7 of 28). RPI forced 10 turnovers, collected seven steals and had assists on 11 of its 18 made baskets.

Rensselaer sophomore Ashley Clough (West Chesterfield, NH / Keene) led all players with 14 points and six rebounds, while junior Amanda Lynch (Middletown, NY / John S. Burke) had 10 points in eight minutes. Sophomore Lauren Young (Kirkwood, MO / St. Joseph Academy) came off the bench to score three points, hand out four assists and made three steals. Senior Zysnia Osepa (Melrose, NY / Tamarac) added four points, four rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in eight first half minutes.

Clarkson was led in the first half by sophomore Ashley Loggins (Albany, NY / Colonie), who had eight points, five rebounds and two steals.

The second half was much like the end of the first until there were five minutes left when the Golden Knights cut the deficit to 15 points, 57-42. RPI scored six of the next seven points to go ahead by 20 points, 63-43, just over two minutes later. Clarkson cut the deficit to 14 points just before the final buzzer sounded.

Clough led all scorers with 22 points, along with a team-high eight rebounds. Lynch finished with 14 points and six boards, while senior Kelly Piotrowski (Schenectady, NY / Schalmont) had 14 points for RPI. Young added five points, four rebounds, a game-high six assists and four steals, while Osepa had four points, four rebounds, an assist, a block and two steals.

Loggins also had 22 points, along with 11 rebounds and a game-high six steals. Junior Cara Manfredi (Glastonbury, CT / Geneseo) added 11 points and classmate Brooke Butkovsky (Monroe, CT / Masuk) had three points and 10 rebounds with three assists, three blocked shots and four steals.

Rensselaer's next game is Friday at league foe Rochester Institute of Technology, while the Golden Knights host Vassar College in a conference matchup on Friday. Both games begin at 6pm.