RPI Downs Basketball, 56-44
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Nov. 29, 2007) - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team used a balanced offensive attack to upend non-conference foe Mount Holyoke College 56-44 this evening at the Mildred Howard Gymnasium. With the win, the Red Hawks improved their record to 3-4. The Lyons fell to 1-3.Four players reached double digits in the scoring column for RPI. Junior forward Elizabeth Barker (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) notched a double-double on 12 points and a game-best 21 boards to lead the way. The Red Hawks also received a boost from senior guard Missy Jackman (Danvers, Mass./Danvers), who knocked down three shots from beyond the arc en route to 12 points of her own. Junior guard Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, Mass./LaSalle Academy) and senior forward Brittney O'Neal (Clinton, Conn./The Morgan School) chipped in with 11 points apiece.
Mont Holyoke was paced by sophomore forward Jess Olson (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) , who piled up 24 points and 21 boards, both career highs. It was her tenth career double-double and fourth this season. Junior guard Katie Austen (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Lyons, who were limited to just 21.1% (12-57) shooting in the game.
After a slow start by both squads, RPI used a 13-0 run midway through the opening half to build a 15 point edge (21-6). Mount Holyoke responded by scoring the game's next nine points to pull to within six (21-15) with just over two minutes remaining in the period. The Red Hawks finally put an end to the rally with a pair of free throws by O'Neal at the 1:36 mark and took a nine point advantage (26-17) into the locker room.
Olson took control of things in the early stages of the second stanza, scoring eight straight points to pull Mount Holyoke to within three (28-25) at the 16:18 mark. She drained a pair of three-pointers in the span and converted two shots from the stripe.
RPI answered with a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to put things away. Following a free throw by Jackman with just under 12 minutes to go, the Red Hawks led 40-27. Their 13 point cushion was their largest of the night.
Olson connected for two more treys to slice the deficit to seven (42-35) at the 10:12 mark, but the Lyons failed to close the gap any further down the stretch.
Mount Holyoke (1-4, 0-0 NEWMAC) is slated to visit Roger Williams University for a non-league tilt on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. RPI (3-4, 0-0 LL) will be off until Thursday, December 28, when it takes on St. Joseph's College of New York in the opening round of the South Padre Island Shootout in South Padre Island, Texas. The Red Hawks will also play games on December 29 and 30 to conclude the tournament.
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