SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Union College held a 27-15 halftime lead and increased their margin by eight points in the third quarter on its way to defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 58-44 in a Liberty League contest at the Viniar Athletic Center.
Dutchwomen senior Amber Raisner led all players with 19 points, hitting 7-of-12 shots from the field and 5-of-6 shots from the free throw line in addition to grabbing five rebounds to help Union (6-11, 4-7 Liberty League) to a key conference win. Classmate Anna Metcalf also reached double figures with 10 points, while junior Olivia Pachla had eight points, nine rebounds and six blocks.
Junior
Nicole DaPra had a team-high 17 points while playing all 40 minutes for the Engineers. Ahlyn O'Neil added 16 points and six rebounds, while
Heather Converse scored six points and had a game-high 10 rebounds.
After DaPra opened the scoring with a three-pointer for RPI (3-13, 2-9 Liberty League), Raisner came back with four straight points and senior Darby Leid added a three-ball to give Union the lead. The teams exchanged baskets but the Dutchwomen never relinquished their advantage, finishing the period on a 6-0 run to take a 17-9 lead into the second stanza.
Union put the clamps on the Engineers defensively in the second, limiting RPI to 2-of-15 shooting to build up a 27-15 lead at the half.
The home team had its best period of the game coming out of halftime, hitting 10-of-17 shots and recording zero turnovers while forcing seven. Raisner and Metcalf combined for Union's first 11 points as the lead ballooned to 38-21 with 5:39 to go, and that was followed soon after by a 10-0 run that gave Union its largest lead of the night at 48-26 following a Pachla layup in the final minute that put the game away early.
The Dutchwomen finished the night shooting 43.9 percent (25 of 57) from the field, while limiting RPI to 26.3 percent (15 of 57) shooting. The home team dominated in the paint to the tune of a 40-12 scoring margin, while Union also converted 17 RPI turnovers into 21 points.
The Engineers are back on the road on Friday when they travel to Skidmore for a conference game at 5:30pm in Saratoga Springs. Union hosts Ithaca at Viniar Athletic Center on Friday at 5:30pm.
