WESTFIELD, Mass. - Ashley Clough netted 21 points and 10 rebounds and Amanda Lynch had 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute women's basketball to a hard-fought 54-52 win over the University of Southern Maine in the consolation final of the Westfield State Holiday Tournament at the Woodward Center on Tuesday afternoon.
 
USM led 22-21 at the half after closing the first half with an 11-0 run.
 
The Huskies extended their lead to as many as six points on two occasions, and led by five, 41-36 after an Ella Ramonas free throw with 6:18 to play in the game.
 
RPI rallied with a 9-0 spur to change the momentum, led by a traditional three-point play from Amanda Lynch, and capped by a layup from backup center Alyssa Rueb off an excellent post entry pass from Courtney Renyolds, to grab a 45-41 lead with 4:46 to play.
 
Southern Maine answered with a pair of free throws by Ramonas, and a three-pointer from Stephanie Gallagher, and later a free throw from Gallagher to tie the game at 47-all with 2:51 to play.
 
RPI took the lead back for good, 49-47 with 1:33 to play on a layup by Renyolds.
 
After a series of fouls by the Huskies in the closing minutes, Lauren Young hit two free throw with 29 seconds left in regulation to give the Engineers a 53-50 lead, then after a missed three pointer by Ramonas, Clough hit one of two free throws to push the lead to 54-50.
 
Ramonas got a layup with .8 seconds left to cut the score to the final margin of 54-52, but time ran out on the Huskies on the ensuing inbounds pass.
 
The Engineers shot just 28.6 percent from the floor in the game, but posted a strong defensive effort of their own, with nine blocked shots and 10 steals. RPI improves to 4-5 on the season.
 
Southern Maine was led by 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists from Ramonas, and Megan Pelletier added 12 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Southern Maine falls to 6-5 with the loss.
 
RPI pushed an early lead up to as much as 10, 21-11 on a jumper by Tetrault.  Clough scored 11 in the first half to lead the Engineers, who were hurt by starting center Shaina Iton going to the bench with her second foul with 11 minutes left in the half.  Iton had three blocked shots and four rebounds in the first eight minutes before being saddled with the second foul.

Rensselaer hosts a pair of Liberty League games this weekend, beginning league play on Friday at 6pm against St. Lawrence and continuing on Saturday versus RIT (2pm).

Southern Maine closed the first half with a 11-0 run to grab the a 22-21 lead at the intermission.  Trailing 21-11 with 6:41 to play in the opening stanza, the Huskies got a free throw from Kayla Stacy, then a three-pointer and a long jumper from Gretchen Anderson, then capped the run with a layup from Pelletier and a three pointer from Stacy.