Box Score
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Schenectady, NY Senior forward Katlyn Cunningham scored 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds and junior guard Erika Eisenhut netted 13 markers with five assists as Union defeated Liberty League rival Rensselaer, 63-55, at the Viniar Athletic Center.
In a game that featured 10 lead changes, Union, now 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the circuit, took the lead for good with 3:29 left to play when senior guard Melissa Marra scored a layup to give the Dutchwomen a 54-53 advantage. Cunningham's layup with 2:40 showing gave Union a three-point advantage, 56-53, before the Red Hawks' Kaitlyn Saunders pulled her team to within one, 56-55, with 2:09 remaining.
Marra, who finished with nine points, a team-high 11 rebounds and three assists, scored off Emily Scott's pass with 52 seconds left to make it 58-55. Cunningham and sophomore guard Sarah Krammen connected on four consecutive free throws to make it 60-55 with 33 seconds left.
Rensselaer, which trailed by five at the half, 29-25, tied the game at 39 with 11:43 left to play on a 7-0 run that was capped by Destany Eagles' layup. The Red Hawks, 2-8 overall and 0-1 in the Liberty League, took a 46-41 lead on a three-point play by Kristin Baranowski. The Dutchwomen would come back from the five-point deficit at the 8:20 mark as Eisenhut connected on a key three-point field goal. The Red Hawks came right back with another 7-0 run to take the lead, 53-48, on a jumper by Nicole Van Slyke with 5:34 left.
With 3:37 remaining, the Dutchwomen were able to come back one last time and take control of the game as Emily Scott, who contributed 10 points off the bench, made a key lay up while being fouled. She missed her charity shot before Eisenhut grabbed the rebound for the Dutchwomen, kicked the ball out to Melissa Marra drove the lane for a layup that gave Union its 54 -53 lead.
The Red Hawks received strong play from forwards Kaitlyn Saunders and Kristi Baranowski who had 13 and 15 points, respectably.
The first half of play featured a see saw battle that ended with the Dutchwomen taking a 29-24 lead into the locker room. Rensselaer used an aggressive defense to stay close as they forced Union to turn the ball over 14 times.
Baranowski led the Red Hawks with 15 points and 14 rebounds while Saunders added 13 points and Amy Morin chipped in with 12.