TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with league-leading RIT for three quarters before the Tigers pulled away late, handing the Engineers a 59–49 setback this evening in ECAV Arena. 

Siena Smith led RPI with 12 points and added three assists and two steals, while Tyler Hormazabal and Sophie Costello each chipped in eight as the game featured five ties and eight lead changes before RIT seized control in the fourth.

The opening quarter was tightly contested., as the Engineers held a brief advantage in the early moments before RIT answered with late free throws and a buzzer-beating jumper to take a narrow 16–13 lead after one. 

RPI continued to trade punches in the second, as Danielle Strauf buried a fast-break three, Sydney Blaney connected from the corner, and Smith drilled a pull-up triple to pull the Engineers within one on multiple occasions, but RIT closed the half on a small run to carry a 31–25 advantage into the locker room.

Hormazabal knocked down a three early in the third, then converted a driving layup as the Engineers trimmed the deficit to three. Smith followed with a deep triple and a finish at the rim to make it a one-possession game midway through the period, and Costello added a late three just before the horn to keep RPI within striking distance at 46–40 entering the fourth.

The visitors took control in the final ten minutes behind a steady inside attack and timely shooting. RPI answered with baskets from Gendron, Costello, and Emilia Rojik, including a fast-break layup off a Costello steal, but RIT converted consistently at the other end to push the margin back to double digits.

Gendron pulled down a team-high seven rebounds to go with six points, and Boyle contributed four points and four boards. 

The Engineers next welcome Ithaca to ECAV Arena for a 2:00 pm senior day contest.