TROY, N.Y. -- Ashley Clough and Amanda Lynch both recorded double-doubles to lead Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to a 72-58 win over Utica in the home opener on Wednesday evening at East Campus Arena. Clough totaled 24 points and 12 rebounds, both game highs, while Lynch finished with 15 points and ten boards, along with five blocks. With the win, the Engineers improve to 2-1 on the young season, while Utica drops to 1-2. 

The teams played a closely contested first half, exchanging the lead several times before RPI took the lead for good late in the half. With 4:22 to go, the Pioneers held a 22-19 lead after a Christy Traglia 3-pointer. RPI's Kristen Van Gilst (Harwinton, CT / Lewis Mills) sank a jumper at 4:22, starting a 14-0 run, lasting until the 19 second mark. Traglia (Mohawk, NY / Mohawk) nailed another shot from long range to end the run and send the teams to the locker rooms with the Engineers on top, 33-25. 

RPI started the second half on an 8-0 run, which was once again ended by a Traglia bucket. The Engineers continued to build a lead, pushing their advantage to 50-40 with 12 minutes to go on two Ellen Boucher (Williston, VT / Rice Memorial) free throws. Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY / Allegany-Limestone) cut the Pioneer deficit back to eight with 11:26 to play, but Boucher responded immediately with a layup to keep the Engineers ahead by ten. Rensselaer pulled away as time wound down, getting back-to-back layups from Lynch (Middletown, NY / John S. Burke Catholic) and Bailei Tetrault (Cohoes, NY / Cohoes) with 6:30 to play, pushing the score to 60-45. Lynch and Clough (West Chesterfield, NH / Keene) combined for six free throws down the stretch to seal up the win for the Engineers.

Tetrault also reached double-digit scoring for RPI, netting 10 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Shaina Iton (Peekskill, NY / Peekskill) also finished with six boards. 

Utica was led by Traglia, who finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Kelcei Edmonds (Pittsburgh, PA / Shady Side Academy) added 12 points.

Rensselaer will return to action on Saturday, taking on host Oneonta at the Holiday Inn Classic at 8 p.m.