TROY, N.Y. - Seniors Sam Krumbhaar and Celia Tomlinson both scored 24 points and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team used a 15-1 fourth quarter run to pull away from Clarkson University 77-63 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The Engineers have now won six straight games to improve to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The Golden Knights fall to 4-3 and 0-2.

Leading 62-59 with six minutes to play in the fourth, RPI scored 15 of the next 16 points over a span of 6:30 to put the game away. Freshman Heather Converse got things going with a free throw before Courtney Lewis sank two shots from the stripe. Krumbhaar made consecutive jumpers before the Golden Knights broke the 7-0 run with a Molly Stewart free throw. Krumbhaar added two free throws before Brielle Sharry scored on a layup and Tomlinson scored four straight points from the line. 

RPI held a 36-30 lead at halftime, but the Golden Knights kept it close for much of the second half thanks to four three pointers in the third quarter. They connected on 52.9% (9 of 17) of all of their shots in the third frame, though RPI extended its advantage by a point by making 50% (7 of 14) of its shots and 8 of 9 (88.9%) of its free throws. Rensselaer missed only five of 32 free throws all game (84.4%), while Clarkson was 11 of 18 (61.1%).

Krumbhaar, a guard, was 8 of 18 from the floor (2 of 4 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free throw line for her 24 points. She also had nine rebounds, two assists and a steal. Tomlinson, a forward, was 6 of 9 and 12 of 13 with a game-high 14 rebounds, four blocks and an assist. Converse added a career-high 10 rebounds and four points, while Courtney Lewis scored 10 points with three rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Stewart, a senior, led the visitors with 19 points and nine rebounds. Hannah Earl chipped in with 11 points and Rachel Marion scored seven points with a game-high four assists for the Knights, who finished the game by making eight three-pointers.

Clarkson is back in action on Tuesday when it hosts St. Lawrence University in a conference game at 5:30pm. The Engineers play at Bard College in a league game on Wednesday (5:30pm) and at Smith College in a non-league game on Thursday (5:30pm).