Although the women’s basketball team had a disappointing opening weekend of conference play, it didn’t have to wait long for the first Liberty League victory of the season. On Tuesday night, the Red Hawks hosted Vassar College for a 6 pm game that ended in a solid 67-43 win that moved RPI to 6-7 overall on the season, and 1-2 in the League. The Brewers dropped to 4-7 overall, and 0-3 in the league with the loss.
Whistle-happy refs kept both teams wary early in the game while an early six-point lead by Vassar was erased within minutes as RPI charged ahead just under the eight-minute mark. Vassar did briefly regain control of the game again but the Red Hawks took the lead for good, with a score of 31-24 heading into halftime.
In the second half, RPI was up by 22 points at one point. Led by a 10-point second-half effort by senior Missy Jackman. Getting themselves into foul trouble, Vassar was unable to compete with the Red Hawks and lost by 24 points.
Junior Kerry Hayes led the Red Hawks with 14 points, while junior Elizabeth Barker had her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Jackman had 12 points and senior captain Brittney O’Neal had 10 points with five rebounds.
On Friday, the league opener for the Red Hawks, the team welcomed William Smith College for a 6 pm game in Robison Gym. The Herons shot 52.1 percent from the field as they marched to a 92-68 victory that improved their record to 10-1 overall.
Saturday’s game against Hamilton was again disappointing for the Red Hawks as they lost 76-62 to the Continentals who shot 75 percent from beyond the arc in the second half. The visitors rushed out to a 10-2 lead early and never looked back, improving to 6-5 overall.
RPI heads north to St. Lawrence University for a 6 pm game on Friday and then to Clarkson University for a 2 pm game on Saturday.
