Last Friday, the RPI women’s basketball team traveled to Saratoga Springs to tip off against the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds in their sixth Liberty League game of the season. The Red Hawks came out quick and went on a 16-8 run, but slowly cooled as Skidmore was able to bring the score to 27-21 at the break. After the first half, the Red Hawks were red hot and went on a 10-0 run, eventually leading by 20 points. However, the Thoroughbreds were once again able to bring the score to within seven with fewer than three minutes left in play.
But a seven point difference was as close as Skidmore got. When time expired, RPI won by a score of 69-59, and moved to 5-1 in the Liberty League and 13-3 on the season. The Skidmore Thoroughbreds, on the other hand, dropped to 5-12 on the season and 2-4 in the Liberty League. Notably, freshman Sarah Wetmore, for the third game led the team with a game-high 19 points. Senior guard Whitney Coleman netted 14 points, while senior Elizabeth Barker had a double-double scoring 10 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
Electrified from their fifth win in the Liberty League, RPI traveled up the Hudson River to Schenectady, N.Y., for a chance to take first place in the Liberty League. Awaiting the Red Hawks were the Union College Dutchwomen, who were tied with RPI for first place in the Liberty League at 5-1. Although the game began with even playing, the Dutchwomen broke the game open with an 18-4 run to lead at the half, 33-23. Besides a quick run to bring the score to within five points, the second half went the same way as the first for the Red Hawks. Luckless, Rensselaer never got within six points of the Dutchwomen for the rest of the game, and finished with a 74-47 loss. Part of the reason for the low score was the Red Hawks’ low shooting percentage; the Dutchwomen held the Red Hawks to only 28.8 percent shooting from the floor. In addition, only Wetmore and Barker reached double digits on the day, with 10 and 14 points, respectively. RPI fell from its first place tie, dropping to 13-4 on the season and 5-2 in the Liberty League. The Dutchwomen solidified first place with a 6-1 record in the Liberty League and 12-5 on the season.
Earlier this week, Wetmore was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Week—her third straight, and fifth on the season—by averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game. She recorded 19 points, one rebound, three assists, three steals and no turnovers against Skidmore, and posted 10 points, with three boards and two steals in the loss at Union.
Although the Red Hawks lost the game against the Dutchwomen, RPI can still take the Liberty League later in the season when they face off against the Dutchwomen again at home. Despite the loss, the team is taking games week to week, and not looking too far ahead. The women’s basketball team is presently gearing up for this Friday’s 6 pm home game against the Hamilton College Continentals. For the Red Hawks, this next game is a must-win if they are to take the Liberty League.
