FITCHBURG, Mass. – Russell Sage College won its final non-conference contest of the season 78-63 this evening at Fitchburg State.
The Gators, which had three players tally double figures and five that scored at least eight points, used a 23-7 first half run to take control of the game. RSC (7-13), now winners of four of its past five, held at least a nine-point lead for the final 28:08.
Junior guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, FL/Haines City) paced the Gators with 16 points. She grabbed six rebounds and came up with four steals.
Sophomore forward Kallie Hopkins (Millsboro, DE/Poly Tech) contributed 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting, nine rebounds, and four assists.
Freshman guard Riley Sitcer (Coxsackie, NY/Coxsackie-Athens) added a season-high 13 points on 75.0 percent shooting. The rookie is averaging nine points on 58.9 percent shooting across the past four games.
Senior guards Malena Gereau (Schroon Lake, NY/Schroon Lake Central) and Lauren Sanderson (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coyemans-Selkirk) each scored eight points. Gereau topped all players with 11 rebounds, while Sanderson recorded eight rebounds and four steals.
Senior forward Rylie Harlow registered 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting, six rebounds and three steals for Fitchburg State (3-17), now on an 11-game slide,
RSC returns to Empire 8 Conference play on Friday vs. SUNY Poly. The final home contest of the regular season will serve as the program's "Senior Night".
Gator Bites with Papa John's: The season marks the first with Michael Branche as the Head Coach of RSC Women's Basketball…He had been an assistant women's basketball coach since July 2020…12 players, making up just shy of 94 percent of the team scoring returned for the Gators…The dozen combine with five newcomers on this year's squad…RSC finishes the regular season with seven of its last eight games away from home…Acosta, junior forward Aniyah Kelley (New Castle, DE/William Penn), and Sanderson headline the returning Gators…Gereau began the week leading the Gators in scoring at 11.7 points per-game…Acosta started the week leading the Empire 8 Conference in free throw percentage…Senior guard Olivia Huneau (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes), Sanderson, and Gereau were voted captains of the team.
