CANTON, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team led early and traded punches for much of the night before St. Lawrence pulled away late, handing the Engineers a 69–62 Liberty League setback this evening at Burkman Gymnasium.
RPI jumped out to a fast start behind efficient interior play and carried a 19–8 advantage after one quarter, but the Saints' perimeter shooting and fourth-quarter free throws proved decisive.
RPI set the tone from the opening tip, scoring its first eight points in the paint.
Siena Smith opened the game with a driving layup and later knocked down a three, while
Brooke Boyle finished twice inside and
Niamh Gendron converted a pair of early baskets as the Engineers raced to an 11-point lead. RPI shot 53 percent in the first quarter and held St. Lawrence to 4-for-16 shooting to build the early cushion.
The Saints responded in the second, trimming the deficit with a string of threes, but RPI continued to answer. Smith scored on a baseline drive and added free throws,
Megan Heyns buried a corner three off a
Sophie Costello assist, and
Danielle Strauf finished in the lane as the Engineers maintained control. A late Smith three at the 30-second mark pushed RPI ahead 35–26 before St. Lawrence closed the half with a basket to make it 35–28 at the break.
St. Lawrence chipped away throughout the third quarter, tying the game at 43–43 on a Jackie Malley three with 3:15 remaining. Boyle and
Tyler Hormazabal responded with baskets to briefly reclaim the lead, but the Saints edged in front late in the period and carried a 45–43 advantage into the fourth.
The decisive stretch came early in the final quarter, as St. Lawrence knocked down consecutive threes and converted at the free-throw line to build separation. RPI stayed within striking distance behind Costello finishes at the rim, a Hormazabal three at the five-minute mark, and continued attacks inside from Boyle and Smith, but the Saints went 8-for-10 at the stripe in the fourth to keep the Engineers at bay.
Smith led all Engineers with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting to go with six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Boyle followed with 13 points and five rebounds, while Costello added 11 points, three rebounds, and two steals. Hormazabal contributed five points, six rebounds, and three assists, and Gendron pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds while anchoring the interior.
The Engineers conclude the regular season tomorrow with a 2:00 pm tip at Clarkson.
