TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team outlasted Williams down the stretch, 73–70, riding a breakout night from first-year forward Niamh Gendron and a parade of late free throws inside ECAV Arena.

Gendron topped all scorers, as she finished with 17 points (5-of–7 3PT) and five rebounds in a career performance.

After RPI led 31–25 lead at the break, the Engineers pushed the margin to double figures in midway through the third as Brooke Boyle cleaned the glass for a tip-in put back and Sydney Blaney drilled a mid-range jumper, but the Ephs surged within two until Gendron beat the horn with a right-wing three to make it 52–47 after three. 

RPI's freshmen and veterans then closed it. Gendron splashed two more threes in the fourth and converted a layup to stretch the lead to 62–51. Williams clawed back to tie things at 62–62 with 3:36 left, but Tyler Hormazabal calmly answered with a pull-up, then set up Sophie Costello in transition before Molly Libby slipped to the rim for 66–62 at 2:18. In the final minute, Blaney went 4-for-4 at the line and Hormazabal added a split to keep RPI in front, Smith sealed it by hitting the second of two with 0:07 remaining.

The Engineers shot 49.1% from the field and 40.0% from deep (6-of-15) with 43 bench points, led by Gendron and Costello (13 points on 6-of-8 FG). Blaney turned in a pristine line, eight points (2-for-2 FG, 4-for-4 FT), four assists, two steals, while Hormazabal added eight points, for rebounds, three steals and a crucial late jumper. Smith posted seven points, Boyle (six pts, five reb) and Megan Heyns (five points, four assists) provided sturdy play, and Emilia Rojik chipped in six points and four boards as RPI moved to 3–1.

RPI will next head west for a pair of contests in the St. John Fisher Classic this weekend in Rochester.