Hamilton (17-7 overall, 9-5 league) clinched a spot in the league championships tournament as the third seed. The Continentals, who will make their first appearance in the postseason since 2004-05, play No. 2 seed Union College in one semifinal at league regular season champion St. Lawrence University on Friday, Feb. 23.
Rensselaer (15-10, 8-6) tied for fourth place in the league standings with William Smith College, but William Smith swept the season series and earned the fourth and final spot in the league tournament.
Fasulo blocked two shots and made 8 of 14 shots from the field. She leads the league in scoring at 15.1 points per game. Pumla Sathula '08 posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to go with two steals. Sarah Schrader '09 added nine points and three assists. Madelyn McGuinnis '09 came off the bench to score nine points and block two shots.
Whitney Coleman '09 paced the Red Hawks with 12 points and seven rebounds. Caitlyn Charest '09 scored all 11 of her points in the second half. Charest handed out four assists and was credited with three steals.
Hamilton scored the first eight points and eventually took a 25-22 lead into the break. Charest gave Rensselaer its first lead at 27-25 early in the second half when she hit a three-pointer and a jumper.
The Continentals trailed 30-29 with 16:08 left, but a three-point play by Fasulo and a three-pointer by Schrader gave Hamilton the lead for good at 35-30. The Red Hawks were still within three points at 51-48 with 2:21 remaining, but the Continentals scored the final eight points as they went 8-for-10 from the free throw line in the final 2:08. Hamilton went 19-for-28 from the line in the second half.
Rensselaer shot 28.8 percent (21-73) from the floor while the Continentals shot 40.4 percent (19-47). Hamilton held a 43-38 advantage in rebounds and has outrebounded each of its last eight opponents. The Red Hawks lead the all-time series against the Continentals with 23 wins and 18 losses. Hamilton is 8-2 in its last 10 games.
Rensselaer vs Hamilton College 02/17/07 2 p.m. at Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. At Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. HAMILTON COLLEGE 59, RENSSELAER 48 RENSSELAER (15-10, 8-6 LL) Whitney Coleman 6-20 0-0 12; Caitlyn Charest 4-11 1-2 11; Elizabeth Barker 3-11 0-0 6; Brittney O'Neal 2-2 1-2 5; Kristin Danbury 2-3 0-0 4; Destany Eagles 2-17 0-0 4; Sara Decker 1-1 0-0 2; Kristi Baranowski 0-3 2-2 2; Missy Jackman 1-3 0-0 2; Tory Lyons 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-73 4-6 48. HAMILTON COLLEGE (17-7,9-5 Liberty) Sydney Fasulo 8-14 5-7 21; Pumla Sathula 4-9 2-5 11; Madelyn McGuinnis 2-2 5-6 9; Sarah Schrader 2-8 4-7 9; Molly Kane 2-5 3-4 7; Cate Schafer 1-3 0-0 2; Jessica Barrows 0-2 0-0 0; Liz Longley 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 19-47 19-29 59. Rensselaer.................... 22 26 - 48 Hamilton College.............. 25 34 - 59 3-point goals-Rensselaer 2-17 (Caitlyn Charest 2-4; Destany Eagles 0-6; Kristi Baranowski 0-1; Missy Jackman 0-1; Whitney Coleman 0-5), Hamilton College 2-10 (Sarah Schrader 1-2; Pumla Sathula 1-3; Molly Kane 0-2; Jessica Barrows 0-1; Liz Longley 0-2). Fouled out--Rensselaer-Caitlyn Charest, Hamilton College-None. Rebounds-Rensselaer 38 (Kristi Baranowski 7; Whitney Coleman 7), Hamilton College 43 (Sydney Fasulo 13). Assists-Rensselaer 13 (Caitlyn Charest 4), Hamilton College 13 (Sarah Schrader 3). Total fouls-Rensselaer 21, Hamilton College 11. A-171 Hamilton clinches spot in Liberty League championships tournament Rensselaer leads all-time series 23-18