ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Leading 63-60 with 1:28 remaining in the game, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team scored just one more field goal down the stretch as they fell to the RIT Tigers on the road by a final score of 69-65 Saturday afternoon.
 
The game swayed back-and-forth throughout the 40 minutes of play, as there were 11 total lead changes and six ties. However, it was all RPI early as they held the Tigers to just four points in the opening 10 minutes to take an early 13-4 lead.
 
The Engineers continued to push into the half, as they reached their largest lead of the day at 11 points with a pair of free throws from Siena Smith with just 22 seconds remaining in the first half. A late three-pointer from Emma Rose in the closing seconds of the half brought the RPI back to eight and gave RIT momentum headed into the third quarter.
 
The Tigers continued to push as the third quarter played out, quickly pulling within a point over the first four minutes, and taking a lead after a three-pointer from Ansley Orrell with 3:01 to play. However, RPI pushed back and a clutch offensive rebound and putback from freshman Sophie Costello gave the Engineers some cushion heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The fourth quarter consisted of an on-court see-saw, as both teams shared and claimed the lead throughout. Holding the slight lead, Smith connected on a layup with 1:28 to play that gave RPI a 63-60 lead.
 
From that point, RIT hit back-to-back baskets on consecutive possessions – which included a three-point play from Kaitlyn Bockelman - to take a 65-63 lead with 46 seconds to play. A missed jumper forced RPI to foul, and leading the Tigers into a 9-2 run to end the game.
 
Smith finished with a season-high 25 points for the Engineers, putting up nine points from the free throw line. Smith also had eight rebounds and a steal on her resume for the afternoon. Nicole DaPra was the other in double-digits with 18 points and eight rebounds, hitting four three-pointers on the game.
 
Bockelman finished with 24 points for the Tigers on 10-for-13 shooting from the field. Emma Waite added 12 points for RIT, while Erin DiPaola chipped in with 11 points.
 
The Engineers return to action next Friday, Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m. when they return home to ECAV Arena to take on Vassar.