ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team jumped out to a fast start in its Liberty League game at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), but the homestanding Tigers bounced back in the middle two quarters to defeat the Engineers 55-42 at Clark Memorial Gymnasium. 

RPI (5-17; 4-13) got baskets from four different players for a 9-2 lead midway through the first quarter and eventually built a 14-4 edge before RIT notched the final hoop of the first 10 minutes. Nicole DaPra recorded a pair of threes for the Engineers, while four others had two points apiece. 

The difference was 10 points (18-8) two minutes into the second quarter and again at the 6:37 mark (20-10). After Rensselaer's Ashlyn O'Neil put the visitors ahead 22-13 with a pair of free throws, the Tigers cut their deficit to three points (22-19) with a 6-0 run. A Becca Gregg jumper increased RPI's lead back to five points, but a Kaleesha Joseph layup ended the half with Rensselaer holding a three-point bulge (24-21).

Joseph scored the first two baskets of the second half to put RIT ahead 25-24 and the Tigers defense forced five turnovers before the Engineers could get on the board. O'Neil scored on a jumper three minutes in to pull RPI to within 28-26, but an 11-2 stretch put the score at 39-28 with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter. Rensselaer's Lolo Reynolds scored to make it a nine-point difference before the end of the frame, which saw the Tigers score 18 points while allowing only six. Nine of RPI's 25 turnovers came in the third quarter.

RIT (11-11; 8-9) scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter for a 47-30 lead before Erin Doyle hit on a jumper with just under six minutes to play. The margin remained double digits the rest of the frame with a late DaPra trey closing the gap to 13 points.

O'Neil finished with 12 points in the loss, while Heather Converse scored 11 points with six rebounds. DaPra also had six boards, along with nine points.

Emma Waite had 16 points for the Tigers, who also got 12 points and nine rebounds from Joseph. 

The Engineers close out the season on Saturday at William Smith College, while RIT hosts Bard College on Saturday. Both games begin at 2pm.