TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team saw its Liberty League Tournament run end in the opening round, falling 50–42 to Skidmore tonight inside ECAV Arena. 

Despite a strong interior effort and repeated defensive stands, the Engineers watched Thoroughbreds used a decisive third-quarter stretch to pull away.

The game opened as a tight, physical battle. Siena Smith set the tone early for RPI, scoring in the paint and converting four first-quarter free throws as the Engineers stayed within striking distance at 14–12 after one. 

Niamh Gendron controlled the glass from the opening tip, collecting rebounds on both ends to help limit Skidmore. RPI continued to answer in the second quarter, with Megan Heyns finishing inside off a Smith feed and Brooke Boyle and Smith scoring in transition to erase a seven-point deficit. Tyler Hormazabal capped the half with a momentum-shifting three from the top of the arc in the final minute, tying the game at 27–27 heading into the locker room.

Skidmore seized control after halftime. The Thoroughbreds opened the third on a 10–3 run, scoring repeatedly at the rim while RPI struggled to find rhythm from the outside. Smith knocked down a right-wing three early in the period to briefly reclaim the lead, and Hormazabal answered later with another triple to keep the Engineers within four, but Skidmore closed the quarter on a surge to take a 43–35 advantage into the fourth.

RPI continued to battle defensively in the final ten minutes. Danielle Strauf scored inside to cut the deficit to six, and Sophie Costello finished a driving layup off a Strauf assist to make it 48–42 with just over three minutes remaining.

The Engineers forced multiple empty possessions down the stretch, highlighted by blocks from Strauf and Hormazabal, but were unable to convert at the other end as Skidmore sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final seconds.

Smith led all Engineers with 17 points, adding eight rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal while playing the full 40 minutes. Gendron posted a team-high 10 rebounds to go with four points and two blocks, anchoring RPI on the interior.

Hormazabal added eight points, including two three-pointers, along with five rebounds and six steals, while Costello contributed five points and three assists.

The Engineers finish the 2025-26 campaign with an overall record of 17-9, marking the programs most victories since 2019-20.