TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team stormed back from an early deficit and closed with poise, edging Keene State 68–64 in a noon tip at ECAV Arena. Graduate guard Siena Smith powered the finish with a team-high 17 points and seven rebounds, while Emilia Rojik added 11 and Tyler Hormazabal orchestrated late with nine points and six assists.

Keene State came out firing and led 23–18 after ten minutes, but RPI steadied behind its depth and defense. Smith trimmed the margin before halftime with a right-wing three and a fast-break jumper in the closing seconds as the Engineers pulled within 35–33 at the break. Out of the locker room, Callie Flynn registered back-to-back put-backs to tie it 37–37, then, after a brief Owls surge, Smith and Danielle Strauf strung together a six-point answer, with Smith's sandwiching a jumper in the lane and layup around two Strauf free throws to flip a 47–44 deficit into a 50–47 lead late in the third.

RPI carried its momentum early in the fourth, as Hormazabal knocked down two free throws, then found Sophie Costello for a sprint-out layup before later knifed to the rim herself for a three-point play that pushed the lead to five. When Keene State threatened again, Hormazabal finished another runout make it 66–59 with 4:09 remaining. Rojik delivered the dagger in the final seconds, slicing to the rim for 68–62 with :11 on the clock before the Engineers closed out a four-point victory.

Smith's 17 led a balanced card that also featured Rojik's 11 points and two steals, Hormazabal's nine point, six rebound effort with two steals; Flynn's team-high eight boards and two blocks, and Costello's seven points, seven rebounds and four assists.

RPI's bench poured in 43 points, won the glass 42–32, turned nine steals into 22 points off turnovers, and lived in the paint for 36 points while shooting 41.9% from the field.

The Engineers next welcome Williams to ECAV Arena for a 5:00 pm tipoff on Tuesday.