TROY, N.Y. - Olivia Middleton scored 14 points and Katie Frederick scored 12 as the St. Lawrence University women's basketball team held off Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 64-59 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The Saints improve to 19-2 overall and 13-2 in the league to remain in striking distance of first place in the conference. The Engineers drop to 4-16 and 3-12.

Trailing by nine points heading into the four quarter, RPI's Becca Gregg opened the frame with a pair of jumpers to get the home team within five points, 52-47, two minutes in. She then scored her third consecutive basket a minute later to make it 52-49, but St. Lawrence's Olivia Barringer countered to make it a two-possession game with 6:38 to go. 

Rensselaer again battled back to within three points, this time on a pair of free throws by Lolo Reynolds, but Dylan Watkiss nailed a three pointer for a 57-51 SLU edge. Another pair from the stripe by RPI, this time from Ashlyn O'Neil, was again countered with an Abby Doin long distance hoop and St. Lawrence increased its lead to 60-53. Nicole DaPra hit a trey on the other end and Gregg had a free throw to make it a 60-57 game with 3:56 to go. 

Frederick scored on a layup with Middleton picking up an assist, but Erin Doyle sunk a jumper to get the Engineers within three points, 62-59 with 2:07 left. Reynolds stole the ball, but RPI could not score on two attempts before Frederick pulled down a rebound. She made both shots with 1:24 to play and the Saints held RPI off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

In addition to her 14 points, Middleton had six rebounds and a pair of assists, while Frederick pulled down nine boards and had three blocked shots. 

O'Neil led RPI with 14 points, while Doyle scored 12 and DaPra had 10, along with seven rebounds and four steals.

Rensselaer is back home on Saturday at 2pm to face Clarkson University, while SLU visits Ithaca College at the same time.