Rensselaer’s women’s basketball team traveled to Amherst, Mass., this weekend to compete in the Amherst College Tip-Off Tournament. The Red Hawks were 1-1 overall at the tournament, winning over New York City College of Technology on Sunday, but losing to Fitchburg State College in their season debut.
Freshman Laura Easterling commented that she did not think the team did badly in either of their two games, but feels it still has room for major improvements. “I think we did a good job in our opener, they were a quality team and we hung with them”
Halfway through the first quarter against Fitchburg, three-pointers from Falcons sophomore Kelley Rogers plagued the RPI defense as the score was 10-20, Falcons. Although the score seemed grim, a string of fast-break layups evened the RPI deficit to 28-22 with a little over five minutes of play remaining in the first half. However, three-pointers from the Falcons raised the deficit to 35-26 by the break.
Easterling commented, “It was disheartening to be down at the half, but that’s basketball, just have to come back in the second half.”
Nonetheless, RPI continued to play hard in the second half almost mounting a valiant comeback led by senior guard Whitney Coleman and freshman guard Sarah Wetmore. They scored 25 points—a game high—and 18 points respectively. When time ran out, the Falcons had stemmed a fourth-quarter comeback and led 71-59, moving RPI to 0-1 and Fitchburg to 1-0 on the season.
The next day, RPI tipped off against the New York City College of Technology. Unlike the previous day, Sunday’s game against the Yellowjackets was all RPI.
Coleman, for a second day in a row, scored a game-high 16 points and had five rebounds, which earned her RPI’s All-Tournament Team honors.
During the first half, RPI outscored the Yellowjackets by a stunning 50-9 by break. The second half was closer, however. RPI succeeded in extending its lead over NYCCT while only allowing 19 points to be scored in the second half. When time expired, RPI led a stunning 88-28, improving to 1-1 on the season while NYCCT fell to 0-2.
Now, with their confidence up, the RPI women’s basketball team plays again on Wednesday at home when it hosts Albany College of Pharmacy. Tip-off is at 6 pm in the Robinson Gym.
