Box Score | RPI Fanshop

TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team made 10 of 16 shots (62.5%) in the fourth quarter and the Engineers turned a two-point deficit into a 12-point victory, defeating The Sage Colleges, 65-53, in a non-conference game at East Campus Arena. RPI won its second straight game to improve to 3-1, while the Gators had a two-game winning streak snapped and fall to 2-2.

Rensselaer held a 31-22 lead at halftime, but Sage came out and scored 24 points in the third quarter alone for a 46-44 lead. The Gators shot 46.7% from the field (7 of 15) with nine free throws to gain the two-point edge.

The Engineers answered immediately to open the final frame as sophomore LaKissa Martin (Las Vegas, NV / Rancho) scored on a layup to tie the game (46-46) and classmate Sam Krumbhaar (Glen Burnie, MD / North County) added a jumper for a 48-46 lead. Elizabeth Eckhardt (Albany, NY / Guilderland), another sophomore, then made a layup for a four-point RPI lead (50-46) less than two minutes into the quarter. Sage got a basket from Emily Parslow (Fonda, NY / Fonda-Fultonville) to pull within two points, but RPI scored the next seven to make it a nine-point game, 57-48, with just over five minutes remaining. 

Sage got to within six points, 59-53, with just over three minutes to play, but the Engineers scored the final three baskets for the victory. Defensively, RPI held the Gators to just 27.3% (3 of 11) shooting in the final 10 minutes.

Krumbhaar led the home team with 17 points, along with three rebounds and a game-high five steals. Rensselaer made 27 of 56 shots (48.2%) in the contest and held advantages of 40-25 in rebounding and 16-7 in steals. 

Sage junior Genevieve Schoff (Little Falls, NY / Little Falls) led all scorers with 25 points, connecting on 8 of 14 shots from the floor and 9 of 11 from the foul line. She also had six rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot before fouling out in the waning seconds. Sophomore Macie Holmes (Amsterdam, NY / Mekeel Christian Academy) also reached double digits in points for the Gators, tallying 10. 

RPI returns to action on Saturday at 2pm in the WPI Thanksgiving Tournament, while Sage next plays on Monday at Skidmore College (8pm).