Women’s Basketball defeats RPI in a nail-biter, 59-58

ROCHESTER N.Y. – First-year guard Caroline Henderson rallied the RIT’s women’s basketball team with her first career double-double to defeat RPI, 59-58, Friday.


HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams shined on defense in the first quarter, holding each other to under 10 points and forcing seven lead changes. RPI dominated the first five minutes, holding RIT scoreless until first-year forward Ben Kayser-Cochranpulled a fadeaway jumper to put RIT on the board with 4:29 left to play. Sophomore forward Faye Kaplinskiscored back-to-back layups to close the gap, ending the quarter down 9-6.
• RPI went on a 7-0 run early in the second quarter and took that momentum throughout the remainder of the half, going up by as much as eight with 3:12 left in the half. RIT fought back in the final minutes to shorten their deficit to six and entered halftime down 25-19.
• RIT started to click offensively to start the third quarter, going on an 11-4 run with three back-to-back three-pointers to give them their first lead of the game with 7:21 left to play. RPI quickly responded with a 12-2 run of their own to end the quarter, retaking the lead and going into the final quarter up 43-37.
• RIT trailed closely for most of the final ten minutes, closing the gap with a 10-3 run to find themselves down by one with 2:40 left in the game. Henderson and Kaplinski combined for five points in the final two minutes, taking the lead and bringing the game down to its final possession. RPI drove down the court with the chance to win the game, only to be overwhelmed defensively by RIT. A last-second shot attempt at the buzzer was no use for RPI, as RIT completed their comeback, winning 59-58.

GAME NOTES

• RPI had a combined seven steals in the first quarter alone.
• First-year guard Caroline Hendersonhad her first career double-double with a team-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. In the second half alone, she scored 16 points, leading the way for RIT’s late-game turnaround.
• Sophomore forward Faye Kaplinski had 15 points, five rebounds, and three blocks.
• First-year forward Ben Kayser-Cochranhad 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
• Despite a rough 12 turnovers in the first half, RIT turned it around, having only four in the second half.
• The Tigers improve their record to 10-7 overall and 8-2 in the Liberty League.

WHAT’S NEXT
RIT stays home to face off against William Smith at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Feb. 1). Women’s Basketball gets win against William Smith, 86-47

ROCHESTER N.Y. – The RIT women’s basketball team defeated William Smith, 86-47, Saturday.


HOW IT HAPPENED

• RIT started the game with a 7-2 run with sophomore guard Maddy Ramsgard hitting three field goals. The Tigers continued their momentum throughout the remainder of the quarter, scoring 17 points, including eight unanswered to end the quarter up 24-12.
• RIT built on their lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Herons 20-13 by shooting 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field.
• After leading 44-25 the half, the Tigers controlled the remainder of the game, leading by as much as 40 points late in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTES

• First-year guard Caroline Hendersonhad a team-high 16 points to go along with four rebounds, and four assists.
• Ramsgard notched 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting and a team-high six rebounds and five assists.
• Senior guard Kaitlyn Bockelman had 11 points and six rebounds.
• As a team, RIT finished the game shooting 56.5 percent from the field while hitting 9-of-14 from three-point range.
• The win puts RIT’s record at 11-7 and 9-2 in the Liberty League.

WHAT’S NEXT
RIT takes to the road on Friday (Feb. 7) to face off against St. Lawrence at 5:30 p.m.