Box Score /
Liberty League Standings /
Senior Day Gallery
TROY, N.Y. - Senior
Amanda Brophy scored 15 points to lead all scorers and the Rensselaer women's basketball team held off Hamilton College, 59-56, in a Liberty League contest at the East Campus Arena. RPI sent its seniors out with a final regular season record of 15-10 overall and 10-4 in the Liberty League. The Continentals fall to 15-9 and 8-6.
The Engineers have qualified for next week's league tournament and will face St. Lawrence next Friday night. Hamilton also earned a berth into the four-team field and will play top-seeded Skidmore. The event will be held in Saratoga Springs. Gametimes have yet to be determined.
RPI held an 11-point lead, 58-47, with 1:56 remaining in the second half before Hamilton charged back with a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to only two points with 30 seconds remaining. Freshman Blue Sanders (Los Angeles, CA/Long Island Lutheran) had two baskets in the spurt to lead the visitors. Hamilton then forced a turnover and had a chance to take the lead but Sanders missed a three-pointer and then the Continentals turned the ball over. RPI's
Laura Easterling (Ventura, CA/Ventura) was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws with six seconds remaining for the final margin.
Brophy (Scituate, MA/Milton Academy) led all scorers with 15 points by making all seven of her field goal attempts and a free throw. She also had four rebounds in 22 minutes of action. Grad student
Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds with a game-best six assists, two blocks and a steal.
For Hamilton, junior Lisa Olszewski (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) had 14 points and four rebounds to lead the team, while Sanders finished with 10 points. Freshman Madie Harlem (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) chipped in with eight points and seven rebounds.