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TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team scored six straight points late in the fourth quarter and held Vassar College to seven in the entire frame as the Engineers posted a 49-45 victory over the Brewers in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The Engineers, who won for the second time in four days, improve to 8-5 overall and 4-2 in the conference. Vassar falls to 8-5 and 3-3.

With the score tied at 38-38 after three quarters, RPI junior Sam Krumbhaar connected on a jumper, but it was countered by a three-point field goal from Vassar's Sophie Nick. The Engineers regained the lead, 42-41, on an Elizabeth Eckhardt layup with 1:41 to play and then extended their advantage to three points, 44-41, on a Krumbhaar jumper. Teammate LaKissa Martin followed with a layup to make it 46-41 with 25 seconds remaining. The teams traded four points apiece over the next 11 seconds before Martin made a free throw for a 49-45 edge with 10 seconds left to seal the win.

Rensselaer, which outscored the Brewers 25-19 in the second half, was led by Martin, who scored 11 points with three rebounds. Krumbhaar had 10 points and six boards off the bench and Shaina Iton finished with nine points and 12 rebounds. 

Nick registered a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards, while Ariella Rosenthal scored 11 points with five rebounds. 

The first two minutes of the game were scoreless until Vassar's Nick connected on a three-point basket. The Engineers' first points came courtesy of  Martin, who split the Vassar defense and put home a layup 1:27 later. Rosenthal scored for the visitors and Martin put in another layup midway through the first quarter and the game remained close throughout. Neither team led by more than six points the entire contest and there were seven lead changes with four tie scores. Rensselaer held a 43-38 edge in rebounding, while the Brewers won the turnover battle, 12-14.

The Engineers, who defeated William Smith College on Tuesday (59-53), are right back in action on Saturday when they host Bard College (2pm). Vassar travels to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), also at 2pm.