Kristin Kaczynski scored a game-high 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds and was credited with three steals for Rensselaer, which is ranked sixth in the East Region by the NCAA. Kaitlyn Saunders added 19 points, seven boards and four assists. Jacqueline Ferrari was 8-for-9 from the floor and finished with 16 points. Caitlin Vestal recorded a double-double with 15 markers and 10 rebounds. The Red Hawks (9-2 conference, 17-4 overall) held a 47-34 advantage in rebounding.
Kim Beevers scored 16 of her career-high 18 points in the second half for Hamilton, which dropped to fifth place in the conference with three games remaining. Four teams make the conference playoffs. Beevers also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Jessica Gorman and Holly Erick added 15 points apiece. Jill Regan tied a season-high with 14 points and also had eight rebounds off the bench for the Continentals (5-6, 12-9). Hamilton shot 54.5 percent (18-for-33) from the floor in the second half.
Rensselaer led 43-29 at halftime and still had a comfortable 14-point cushion at 52-38 with 15:33 left. The Continentals quickly got back into the contest with a 16-2 run to tie the score at 54 with 11:55 remaining. Erick’s two free throws gave Hamilton a 58-56 lead, and her offensive rebound and putback put the Continentals on top 60-59 with 9:38 left. However, Saunders’ three-point play 26 seconds later put the Red Hawks back in front for good and they slowly pulled away from Hamilton. Rensselaer eventually pushed the lead to 19 points in the late stages of the contest.
The Continentals will travel to Geneva, N.Y., to play William Smith College in an important conference game on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. William Smith is one game ahead of Hamilton in fourth place.