TROY, N.Y. – The Skidmore College women's basketball team scored eight of the first nine points and never relinquished the lead on its way to defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 57-46 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The Thoroughbreds improve to 15-4 overall and 11-1 in the conference, while RPI drops to 9-11 and 6-7.
 
Julia Blanck had team-highs of 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the visitors while Ashlyn O'Neil scored a game-high 21 points for the Engineers.
 
Becca Horger made the first basket of the game to put the Thoroughbreds ahead but RPI got to within one on a free throw from Heather Converse. Skidmore rattled off the next six points on three pointers from Amelia Medolla and Cassie Davidson for an 8-1 lead. Rensselaer scored the next two baskets but another triple by the Thoroughbreds, this one from Andi Levitz, made the score 11-5, which is how the first quarter ended.
 
RPI surged to open the second, getting to within 15-14 thanks to a basket by Hannah McGrath, three pointers from O'Neil and Brielle Sharry, and an O'Neil free throw. Skidmore answered with a 7-0 run, however, for a 22-14 lead. Blanck had a layup – her fifth and sixth consecutive points for her squad – Madison Meyer hit a jumper, and Sarah Chambers hit a three off an assist from Blanck.
 
McGrath quieted the run to make it 22-16, but the Thoroughbreds ended the half with a 7-2 advantage for a 29-18 lead at the break. Blanck had six points and six rebounds in the first 20 minutes, while O'Neil scored a team-high eight points.
 
RPI cut into the lead after three quarters by outscoring Skidmore 17-14 but could only get as close as eight points, 43-35, on a Sharry basket with 24 seconds left in the frame.
 
The visitors got those three points back in the fourth quarter, outscoring Rensselaer 14-11.
 
Blanck connected on 4 of 7 shots from the field and 6 of 6 from the free throw line to lead the Thoroughbreds, who were 12 of 14 from the stripe as a team. O'Neil had six baskets, including two from behind the arc, and was 7 of 7 from the free throw line. As a team, RPI managed just four three pointers on 20 attempts.