TROY, N.Y. - Trailing by 15 points with just over four minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team scored 24 of the final 35 points in regulation to force overtime and the Engineers defeated the Coast Guard Academy 83-78 in a non-league game at East Campus Arena. The win was the first in four games for RPI, while the Bears fall to 1-2.

Following a pair of Coast Guard free throws, the Engineers got a pair of layups and a free throw from Ashlyn O'Neil to cut the deficit to 10 points, 62-52, with 3:21 to play. The visitors got a free throw from Glory Blethen but Nicole DaPra scored to get RPI to within nine points, 63-54 with 1:36 to go.

Coast Guard again made 1 of 2 free throws but this time DaPra hit a three-pointer for a seven-point deficit with 1:23 left in the fourth quarter. Dorothy Stotts made a pair of free throws for the Bears, but Marley Mueller scored on a layup and was fouled. Her make from the stripe put the score at 66-60 with a minute left. 

Lily Mika made two free throws for Coast Guard with 53 seconds left but RPI's Ahnalese Pearson nailed a shot from behind the arc and then the Engineers forced a turnover, which O'Neil turned into a layup to make it a one-possession game, 68-65 with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter. 

Stotts was again successful on a pair of free throws, but Molly Libby made a trey from the left corner for a 70-68 deficit with 20 seconds left. One successful free throw by Jacqueline Ward gave Coast Guard a three-point lead but Pearson tied it with 12 seconds left with an and-1 from long distance. The free throw was missed and the Bears had a chance to win in regulation but could not convert on a layup attempt.

Rensselaer scored six of the first eight points in overtime, including a pair of baskets by Mueller, and held the lead the rest of the game. DaPra sealed the win with two made free throws with 11 seconds left.

O'Neil led all scorers with 19 points, while Mueller had 16, DaPra scored 12, and Pearson had 10. DaPra added 12 rebounds and Pearson had five assists.

Julia Mann scored 20 points for Coast Guard, which got 19 from Mika. They both had nine rebounds.