TROY, N.Y. - Ashlyn O'Neil scored a game-high 17 points and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team used a 20-2 run to pull away from Bard College, eventually defeating the Raptors 68-33 in a Liberty League game at East Campus Arena. The Engineers go into a 19-day break between games with records of 5-4 (overall) and 2-1 (conference), while Bard falls to 1-8 and 0-3.

After both teams made baskets to open the game, RPI went on an 8-0 run for a 10-2 lead with 3:33 to play in the opening quarter. A free throw by Jade Dinkins of the Raptors interrupted the string but the Engineers answered with a 10-0 stretch and led 20-3 with a minute gone in the second quarter. The home team then scored again after another Dinkins free throw to make it 22-4 with 7:43 to go. 

Of RPI's 20 points in the spurt, seven came from Marley Mueller, five from Lolo Reynolds, four from O'Neil, and two apiece from Hannah McGrath and Molly Libby. Libby is a first-year student-athlete while the other four are seniors on a veteran-laden Rensselaer squad.

The Engineers increased their lead to 21 points at the break (37-16) but Bard cut into it in the third quarter, outscoring RPI 10-6 to make it 43-26. The fourth quarter saw Rensselaer retake control and it went on to the 35-point victory. 

In addition to O'Neil's 17 points, Julia Rowe added eight points and three others scored seven points apiece. Everyone who played for RPI had at least two points. Heather Converse scored four points with six rebounds and McGrath had six and six.

For Bard, Shirly Dong scored 15 points with eight rebounds, while Thalia Grandinetti had seven points. Dinkins finished with four.