The big run has meant the big axe for the Rensselaer women’s basketball team this season, and in the Red Hawks 83-70 loss in Middletown, Conn., to a very good Wesleyan team, that proved again to be the case. The Cardinals (5-0) went on a 20-2 run midway through the first to blow open a 12-12 tie and send Rensselaer packing with another stinging loss.
Wesleyan’s Hannah Stubbs and Rensselaer’s Kaitlyn Saunders each scored 22 points to lead their respective teams. However, Stubbs, who also grabbed 12 rebounds to finish with a double-double, got a little more help from her teammates.
Ashley Mastrangelo and Meghan Robinson scored 17 points and 16 points, respectively, in the Cardinal victory.
RPI also dropped last Tuesday’s game at Williams in overtime due in large part to an 18-6 run in the game’s extra session. The two losses have dropped Rensselaer to 1-4 and have sent the team on its first four-game losing streak in three years. The losing record is also something Rensselaer Head Coach John Greene and company are not accustomed to seeing, since RPI has not dipped below .500 in the past three seasons.
On the positive, the Red Hawks have continued to see steady improvement from several of its younger players. Freshman Missy Jackman tallied 14 points on four three-pointers for RPI while sophomore Kristi Baranowski scored 10 and sophomore Destany Eagles and freshman Brittney O’Neal added eight apiece.
Difficulties were expected by Greene early on with such a young team, however, it is doubtful the RPI head coach would find himself in such a precarious position, especially considering Rensselaer returned the conference’s best player in Saunders. However, maintaining composure under pressure is a learning experience and the Red Hawks are certainly getting their fair share of lessons early.
Despite all the negatives, Greene must certainly be pleased with his continuously sound effort on the defensive end. Greene preaches an intense, pressure defense mentality, and his youngsters have responded well.
Rensselaer grabbed 12 steals in the loss to Wesleyan and created 19 turnovers, pushing the team’s average to 18 steals per game. RPI has also forced opponents into 112 turnovers in just four games, and has committed 80 themselves, over that same span.
Rensselaer fell 76-72 to undefeated Oswego State late Tuesday. The Red Hawks trailed by as many as 30 points early in the second half, but rallied, outscoring the Lakers 52-33 in the game’s second session.
Saunders made a handful of her seven steals in the waning minutes to help narrow the margin. Saunders, who was named Liberty League Forward of the Week for the second striaght week, scored 25 points to lead all scorers in the contest. Kristi Baranowski also had a monster game for RPI in the lost, posting 20 points and hauling in 15 rebounds. Jackman also hit double-digits with 10 for the Red Hawks.
Kristen Sterling tallied 23 points and Sarah Lombard added 19 to pace the Lakers.
The Red Hawks have one more game before winter this Saturday at Middlebury against the Panthers. The team will have just over a week to rest before traveling to Phoenix, Ariz., to participate against the College of New Jersey and Gwynedd-Mercy in the Grand Canyon Classic. RPI will also begin their Liberty League schedule at home the week before school resumes against rivals Union and Skidmore.
