Box Score | RPI Athletics on Instagram

TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore Shaina Iton scored 14 points, including the game's first three baskets, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team never trailed in defeating Clarkson University 63-47 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. Iton, a forward, led all players in points in helping the Engineers to its first conference win (1-1) and fifth victory in 11 games. The Golden Knights made just 12.7 percent of their shots in falling to 0-2 and 5-4.

The 6-0 Iton (Peekskill, NY / Peekskill) used her height advantage to earn layups on three early trips down the floor and she finished the game by making 7 of 10 shots. She also had a team-high nine rebounds with four blocked shots and an assist.

Iton was one of four RPI student-athletes to score in double figures, along with senior Ashley Clough (West Chesterfield, NH / Keene), freshman Elizabeth Eckhardt (Albany, NY / Guilderland) and senior Bailei Tetrault (Cohoes, NY / Cohoes), who had 11, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Clough also registered eight rebounds and a game-high six assists, along with a steal, while Eckhardt had three rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes. She and Clough both had three three-pointers, while Tetrault had two. 

The Engineers enjoyed a 15-8 lead after the first quarter and then held Clarkson to just five points in the second for a 25-13 edge at halftime. RPI made 33.3 percent (9 of 27) of its first half shots, while the Golden Knights were successful just 15 percent (6 of 40) of the time. 

Rensselaer scored seven of the first 11 points of the second half for a 15-point lead (32-17), but Clarkson cut it by seven points, 35-27 with 1:25 to go in the frame. The Engineers answered by scoring the final seven points of the quarter on layups by sophomore Kate Goodell (Shaftsbury, VT / Mount Anthony Union) and Sam Krumbhaar (Glen Burnie, MD / North County) and a three pointer at the buzzer by Tetrault. RPI outscored the Golden Knights by one in the fourth quarter, 21-20, and held a double digit lead the final 10 minutes.

Clarkson was led by senior Ashley Loggins (Albany, NY / Colonie), who had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Juniors Stephanie Grobe (White River Junction, VT / New Hartford) and Alyssia Marsal (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa) added 10 points apiece.

RPI is on the road on Friday, playing at Union College (6pm) before hosting Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday (2pm). Clarkson is home for its next five games, beginning on Tuesday at 6pm against Bard College.