TROY, N.Y. - Seniors Nicole DaPra and Heather Converse combined for 31 rebounds and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team had a 46-30 edge overall in defeating Clarkson University 59-45 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The Engineers improve to 7-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference, while the Golden Knights fall to 5-6 and 1-4. 

DaPra, a guard, pulled down 16 defensive rebounds and 17 overall while also scoring a team-high 12 points. Two of her biggest baskets came in the fourth quarter after a Clarkson rally pulled the visitors to within seven points, 43-36, two minutes into the fourth quarter. Following an Engineers' timeout, DaPra hit a jumper off a pass from Lolo Reynolds and then took a feed from Ashlyn O'Neil and scored again to make it 47-36 with 7:25 to play. 

A layup by Elaina Porter pulled Clarkson into a single digit deficit (47-38), but Rensselaer got a bucket from O'Neil at 6:43 for a 49-38 lead and the margin remained double digits for the rest of the game. 

Joining DaPra for team-high honors in points was Brielle Sharry, who also had a career-high five blocked shots to go with her 12 points. Converse, who had seven offensive rebounds with eight points, added four blocks for RPI, which swatted aside 10 shots as a team.

The Engineers held Clarkson to 31 percent shooting (18 of 58), including an 0 for 12 second quarter when the Golden Knights managed just two points to RPI's 15. Rensselaer finished the game making 25 of 58 attempts for a percentage of 43.1.

Bella Doyle led the Golden Knights with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Porter scored 12 points. Raelin Burns also reached double figures (10 points).