TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team broke open a back-and-forth contest with a dominant fourth quarter, pulling away from Ithaca for a 74–54 Liberty League victory on senior day this afternoon inside ECAV Arena.

After 13 ties and 10 lead changes through three quarters, the Engineers erupted for a 29–9 final period behind relentless pressure defense and efficient finishing at the rim to improve to 16–7 overall and 11–5 in conference play.

RPI set an early tone inside as Niamh Gendron scored three times in the paint in the opening six minutes, including a right-wing three off a Molly Libby assist, while Siena Smith added a pair of free throws to keep the Engineers even at 13–13 after one.

The second quarter featured constant momentum swings, Brooke Boyle knocked down a transition three, Emilia Rojik finished on the break off a Smith feed, and Sophie Costello converted two fast-break layups in the final minute to send RPI into halftime with a narrow 30–26 edge.

The teams continued to trade blows after the break. Smith scored six points in the third, attacking the lane and living at the line, while Tyler Hormazabal answered an Ithaca three with a strong finish inside. Gendron added two free throws and a key block to help RPI maintain a slim 45–42 advantage heading into the final ten minutes.

The Engineers then seized full control. Hormazabal opened the fourth with a pull-up jumper, and Danielle Strauf ignited the decisive run by drilling a fast-break three two minutes into the quarter.

Smith took over from there, scoring repeatedly at the rim on consecutive possessions, while Costello buried a wing three and added two layups off steals as RPI rattled off 22 points in a six-minute span. Libby capped the outburst with a three from the corner in the final minute as the Engineers closed the game on a 29–9 run.

Smith led all players with 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting and an 8-of-9 effort at the free-throw line, adding nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Gendron followed with 18 points and six boards, while Costello added 12 points, four steals, and three assists off the bench. Hormazabal contributed six points, four assists, and two steals, and Boyle chipped in five points on perfect shooting. 

RPI shot 58% from the field and scored 38 points in the paint. The Engineers went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter to close out the victory.

The Engineers head north next weekend, beginning with a 5:30 pm tilt at St. Lawrence on Friday.