SCHENECTADY, NY – Senior guard Missy Jackman (Danvers, MA) scored a game high 20 points and made six of nine field goal attempts to lead Rensselaer to a 66-61 women's basketball triumph at Union Friday night at the Viniar Athletic Center. The Red Hawks improved to 9-11 overall and 4-6 in Liberty League play, while the Dutchwomen fell to 12-9 overall and 6-5 in the league.

 

Kerry Hayes (Nashua, NH) added 11 points and Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA) scored 10 for the Red Hawks. Hayes made five of her six shots and Elizabeth Barker (Suffield, CT) had a team best seven rebounds. Junior center Rachel Ormsby (Charlton, NY) scored 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds, and senior captain and guard Devon Ciliberto (New Paltz, NY) also had eight rebounds for the Dutchwomen. The teams each had 38 rebounds.

 

Jackman's three pointer with 1:15 left in the first gave the Red Hawks the largest lead of the first half, 37-23 with 1:15 left, and Rensselaer had a 39-26 lead at halftime. The visitors took their largest lead of the night just 1:50 into the second half on a jumper by Charest (41-27). But Union went on a 17-7 run in the next 9:36 and trailed by just four at 48-44 after a jumper by Ormsby.

The hosts were also with four at 51-47 with 6:24 remaining after a free throw by Ciliberto, A 9-3 run for the Red Hawks made it 60-50 with 53 seconds left. The Red Hawks shot 55% in the first half and 46% on the night, while the Dutchwomen shot 43% in the second stanza and 38% for the game.

 

Union will host Vassar Saturday for the "WBCA Think Pink" game at 2 p.m. The Dutchwomen will honor their lone senior, Ciliberto, prior to the game, and will take donations to support breast cancer research. Rensselaer plays Saturday at Skidmore at 2 p.m.