TROY, N.Y. – Despite a slow start in the opening quarter, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women’s basketball team came within a possession of taking the lead in the final minutes of regulation but could not convert in a 49-42 loss to SUNY Cobleskill at ECAV Arena Saturday afternoon. With the loss, RPI falls to 2-3 overall, while Cobleskill improves to 3-0 on the year.

Both teams game out of the gate slow, as the Engineers took their only lead of the game with 3:39 to play in the first quarter, as a layup from Siena Smith gave the Engineers an 8-7 advantage. Cobleskill then used a three-pointer from Logan Thayne to take a 10-8 lead, and never relinquished it the rest of the game.

The Engineers still trailed by only seven points, 29-22, at halftime but saw the Cobleskill lead grow to 12 with a run to start the third quarter. A three-pointer by Hannah Cater gave Cobleskill a 36-24 lead before RPI brought it to just a nine point lead heading into the final frame.

The lead remained around nine four minutes into the fourth quarter, as both sides traded buckets. Freshman Sydney Blaney made a jumper with 6:04 to play to cut the lead to seven, and the run for RPI was on. Over the next 4:30, the Engineers turned up the defense and found some scores – capped by a three-pointer from Nicole DaPra to bring RPI within a point, 43-42 with 1:27 to play. 

However, the Engineers offense stalled out there, unable to find a basket down the stretch as Cobleskill converted at the line and pulled away for the win. 

RPI returns to action this Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. when they take on SUNY Delhi at ECAV Arena.