The women’s basketball team put together an impressive run in the ECAC tournament, making it all the way to the finals before getting bounced by Geneseo.
The playoff success started on March 5 with a quarter-final win over Nazereth. The Red Hawks went up by 12 points at the half and never looked back. Rensselaer extended their lead further in the second half and eventually won the game 73-51. Kristin Kaczynski led the team in both points and rebounds, scoring 22 points and pulling down 12 boards. Kaitlyn Saunders tallied 21 points, and Caitlin Vestal poured in 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The semi-final match-up saw the Red Hawks taking on the Oneonta Red Dragons. Rensselaer again led throughout the game and were up by five at the half 45-40. The Red Hawks kept up the pressure and finished the game up 14, 79-65. Saunders led the way with 21 points, shooting 10-10 from the free-throw line. Vestal added 14 points, and Kaczynski tallied 10 in the victory.
The win put the Red Hawks in the finals against the Geneseo Blue Knights. The Blue Knights ran around Rensselaer in the first half, taking a 34-29 lead at the half. The Red Hawks mounted a comeback in the second half but fell short and lost 74-71. Kaczynski again led the way for Rensselaer, scoring 18 points and pulling down six rebounds. Vestal added 16 points, and Saunders poured in 10.
At 18-10, the Red Hawks completed a successful season. With only three seniors and many returning starters, Rensselaer looks to remain strong next season.
