Box Score | RPI Athletics Fanshop

ALBANY, N.Y. - Elizabeth Eckhardt scored 20 points and 12 other Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes also registered points as the Engineers defeated Albany College of Pharmacy, 84-50, to begin the 2018-19 season. 

Eckhardt, a senior, made 7 of 13 shots, including 5 of 7 from three-point range, while also registering a team-best four assists with two rebounds and a steal in 21 minutes. Junior Ines Ortea also reached double figures for the Engineers, scoring 12 points with five rebounds. Sophomore guard Courtney Lewis led all players with 11 rebounds.

Rensselaer scored nine of the first 11 points to build an early lead, eventually getting it to 10 points (21-11) on a Jennah Golden free throw with just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

ACP fought back to take a 26-25 lead four minutes into the second quarter, but a layup and two three-pointers by Eckhardt re-established RPI's lead, 33-26, two minutes later. Rensselaer went ahead by 14 points (43-29) on a Lewis layup with 1:49 to play and the lead was nine points at halftime. 

A 24-7 spread in the third quarter put the Engineers ahead 67-41. Rensselaer finished the frame by shooting 48.6% from the field (17 of 35) while holding the Panthers to just 28.6% (6 of 21). 

Emma Webster scored 18 points and Clare Snell had 17 for Pharmacy.