TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team shook off a slow start and closed with a 21–11 fourth quarter to defeat Utica 53–42 tonight inside ECAV Arena.

Trailing 16–2 after the first quarter, the Engineers steadied behind defense and transition to pull within 21–17 at halftime, then flipped the game after the break with timely shooting and a stout defense late.

Siena Smith sparked the second-half turn, drilling a right-wing three 50 seconds into the third and later finishing a fast-break layup as RPI seized a 26–23 edge. Megan Heyns added a corner three at 3:41 for 30–27, and Tyler Hormazabal's coast-to-coast finish with :57 left in the third sent the Engineers to the final frame ahead by one. 

A brief rally by RPI allowed the lead to bloom to five early in the fourth, however Utica crept back within one with under three minutes remaining. The Engineers would pull away after that, with Smith's dagger three from the left wing at 1:13 stretched it to 50–42 before Boyle iced it with two free throws in the final 17 seconds.

Boyle delivered a team-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds and four steals. Smith added 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting with a pair of threes and two blocks, while Hormazabal stuffed the line with 11 points, six rebounds, five steals, and three assists. Emilia Rojik chipped in six points, four boards, two steals and a block.

The Engineers will look ahead to conference play, which begins with a home matchup with Liberty League rival Clarkson at 5:30 pm on Friday.