TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball battled back from an 11-point halftime deficit and held a 50-45 lead, but Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) used a late run and clutch free throw shooting to defeat the Engineers 61-57 in a Liberty League game at East Campus Arena. The Tigers improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference, while RPI drops to 1-4 and 0-2.

After scoring 22 points in the entire first half, the Engineers scored the same amount in the third quarter, doubling up RIT to tie the score at 44-44 going into the fourth quarter. Rensselaer scored the first four points of that frame on baskets by Becca Gregg and Ashlyn O'Neil and then countered a Megan Roy free throw with another hoop, this one a jumper in the paint by Gregg, for a 50-45 lead with just over six minutes to play. 

Kaleesha Joseph scored on a layup two minutes later to pull RIT to within three and then had a fast break layup to make it a 50-49 game. Nicole DaPra answered for a 52-49 edge with three minutes on the clock, but Sydney Pearson tied the score with a three-pointer from the top of the key. A jumper by RPI's Heather Converse made it 54-52, but RIT scored the next five points and would not relinquish the lead. Roy tied it with a jumper, Kaitlyn Bockelman scored in the paint and later made a free throw for a 57-54 advantage.

A pair of free throws from RPI's Lolo Reynolds made it a one-point game, but Roy and Taylor Signor both knocked down a pair from the stripe on the other end to help seal the win for RIT.

Joseph had 13 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for the visitors, while Pearson also had 13 points. Roy finished with 11.

For the Engineers, O'Neil scored 13 points with nine rebounds and Reynolds scored a dozen with eight caroms. Converse paced RPI with 12 rebounds, along with nine points.

RPI returns to the court on Wednesday when it travels to league foe Bard for a 5:30pm tipoff. RIT plays again next Saturday at SUNY Geneseo (2pm).