RPI DOMINATES ON OFFENSIVE GLASS IN NARROW WIN OVER KNIGHTS

February 4, 2006

Vanessa Westscott drives the lane against RPI - photo by Chris Lenney

Potsdam, NY – Junior guard Vanessa Westcott (Parish, NY) scored 13 points and added five assists but the Clarkson University Women’s Basketball team couldn’t contain Rensselaer’s superior size as the Red Hawks came through with a 59-49 Liberty League win on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Knights dropped to 5-15 overall and 1-8 in the Liberty League and Rensselaer improved to 11-7 and 5-4. Clarkson returns to conference action on Tuesday when they host St. Lawrence.

Unlike the first match up of the season where the Golden Knights struggled from the floor and fell behind by double digits early, Clarkson was able to run out to a narrow lead through the first 10 minutes, when Mickala Henson (Waverly, NY) converted a shot at the 9:42 mark for a 16-13 lead for the Knights. A 10-0 run with four close shots and two free throws gave the Red Hawks a 23-16 lead, but the Knights ended the half with four of the final six baskets to cut the RPI advantage to 28-24 through the first 20 minutes.

Erika Fritjofson (East Barre, VT) led all scorers with eight points in the first half while Sarah Wesner (Sidney, NY), who struggled with foul trouble, contributed four points and six rebounds. Tory Lyons scored seven points to lead the Red Hawks. Rensselaer shot just 28.2 percent from the floor in the first half, going 11-for-39 from the field.

Though the Red Hawks steadily extended their lead throughout the half to eventually reach double figures, the Golden Knights cut into the lead in the final minutes with 3-point field goals and free throws, dropping the RPI advantage to six points with less than a minute remaining. Free throws gave the Red Hawks their final 10-point lead.

Pulling 70 shots and grabbing 55 rebounds through the game, Rensselaer was able to take advantage of its superior size with numerous second chance opportunities on the offensive end while ending the Knights’ chances for multiple shots.

Westcott led the Knights with 13 points while Fritjofson added 11 points, each playing 40 minutes. Wesner scored seven points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Kelly Fink (Verona, NY) added eight points and five rebounds.

Tory Lyons shot 8-for-14 from the field and scored a game-high 17 points while adding seven rebounds. Kristi Baranowski also added 10 points.

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