Troy, NY---The Engineers of RPI hosted cross-town foe, Sage College in women's basketball action on Tuesday evening for the team's home opener. RPI posted the 66-55 win to improve to 2-1 overall, while Sage falls to 0-3 with the loss.
After trailing 30-26 at the break as graduate student Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA) paced the Engineers with 15 first half points. By game's end, she led all players with her career-best effort of 28 points.
Sage took a 38-32 lead in the second half as sophomore guard Megan Bowman (Saranac, NY/Saranac) made a lay-up and a free throw at the 15:03 mark followed by a jumper from sophomore Lea McClain (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) at the 14:30 mark. RPI creeped back and took a 40-39 lead at the 11:39 mark as Ashley Clough made a pair of free throw at 12:38 and Wetmore hit a jumper at 11:55. The last tie of the night came at 48-48 all at the 8:28 mark before RPI started to pull away.
Junior guard Erica Houle (Latham, NY/Shaker) connected on a three-pointer at 1:56 to pull Sage within four (59-55) before Wetmore answered with a lay-up at 1:26.
For the game, McClain led all Gators with her personal-best 13 points, while Sage junior forward Chelsea Martin (Davenport, NY/Jefferson Central) added 11 points. Sophomore forward Amie Jefferson (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) had 10 rebounds for the Sage, while adding eight points. Houle had six points on the night for the Gators as they combined to shoot 77.8% from the line and held an edge from the floor as well. Sage shot 32.2% from the floor, while RPI managed to hit just 28.1% on their shots in the action.
RPI had three players finish in double-digits, paced by Wetmore's 28 points and a double-double from Amanda Lynch (10 points and 10 rebounds). Ashley Clough finished with 11 points and six rebounds for the Engineers.
Sage returns to action on November 27 travelling to Elmira College for a 7 p.m. non-conference game.
