TROY, N.Y. - Ashlyn O'Neil scored a game-high 12 points, Heather Converse recorded 10 points and eight rebounds, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team made 12 of 23 shots in the second half on its way to defeating Union College 66-52 in a Liberty League game at East Campus Arena. The Engineers improve to 6-6 overall and 3-2 in the conference, while the Dutchwomen are now 3-8 and 1-4.

The visitors broke out to a 6-1 lead and eventually built their margin to seven points on two separate occasions, including following a pair of free throws by Megan Lee with 3:37 left in the opening quarter. RPI fought back to tie the score at 13-13 on a free throw from Hannah McGrath with 1:43 left, but the Dutchwomen, who took more shots than the Engineers (17-11), scored the final four points of the frame for a 17-13 lead. 

The second quarter started with four straight RPI points - including an and-1 from O'Neil - that tied the game at 17-17 and the Engineers used an 11-2 run to build a 24-19 edge midway through. Union got to within 24-22 on a three from Kennedy Clark but Danielle Strauf answered with two free throws and Marley Mueller made a layup for a 28-22 lead. A jumper by Union's Jelena Perovic put the visitors down 28-24 but three straight Rensselaer free throws closed the half. RPI earned nine free throws in the frame (7 of 9), while the Dutchwomen did not attempt any. 

The home team really took control of the game at the start of the third quarter when it opened with a 9-0 stretch for a 16-point margin, 40-24. Converse had two free throws, O'Neil made a pair of jumpers, and Nicole DaPra nailed a three pointer - all in the first 2:11. Union got to within 12 points but a basket by Converse at 5:30, a free throw from O'Neil 30 seconds later, and a layup from Converse, off an assist from O'Neil, pushed the score to 45-28 with 3:46 remaining in the third. The Dutchwomen answered with a 12-3 run but RPI finished the quarter by scoring the final four points for a 52-40 lead.

The Engineers maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the fourth quarter to snap a two-game losing streak. In addition to her 12 points, O'Neil added four rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Converse had two assists and McGrath scored nine points with four rebounds.

Clark led the Dutchwomen with 11 points, along with five rebounds, and two assists. Claudia Porto had five points and a team-best six rebounds.