RPI Motors Past Women's Basketball, 72-45

MIDDLETOWN, Conn.—The Anna Maria College women's basketball team fell to the Engineers of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 72-45 in the second day of action at the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament, hosted by Wesleyan University.

The loss drops the AMCATS to 5-3, while the win boosts RPI to 3-4.

AMCAT LEADERS

Anna Maria saw 11 points from junior guard Christina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) and 10 points from classmate Deja Taitt (Cambia Heights, N.Y.).

Junior Nicole Mareiro (Acushnet, Mass.) added nine points off the bench, while senior Samantha Parker (Athol, Mass.) tallied a team-high eight rebounds in just 17 minutes of action.

RPI LEADERS

Rensselaer was led by Ashley Clough with a game-high 19 points, followed by LaKissa Martin with 14 points. Elizabeth Eckhardt added 14 points off the bench, while Shaina Iton posted a game-high 12 rebounds in 14 minutes of action.

 HOW IT HAPPENED

RPI used the first five-minutes of the game to build a 10-point advantage, taking a 14-4 lead on a three-pointer by Clough with 5:45 remaining in the first quarter. The Engineers held Anna Maria to just eight first-quarter points and 11 second-quarter points en route to the 44-19 halftime advantage.

The AMCATS just under 22 percent in the first three quarters used a 36.8 percent effort in the fourth quarter to outscore RPI 17-9. RPI led by 38 points at the tail of the third quarter, but Anna Maria's strong fourth quarter cut into the deficit.

FINAL COMPARISONS

RPI finished with 27 field goals in 73 attempts (37.0 percent), including a 7-for-19 effort (36.8 percent) from three-point range. Anna Maria finished 5-for-21 (23.8 percent) from behind the arc and finished with just 16 field goals over the full 40 minutes.

Neither team shot better than 50 percent from the floor, as Anna Maria hit 8-of-16 (50 percent) and RPI posted a 47.8 percent effort, hitting 11 free-throws in 23 attempts.

RPI held a 58-41 advantage in rebounds, including a 21-12 edge in offensive boards.

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria travels to Framingham State University next Saturday, December 12^th, for a 1:00 p.m. non-conference game.