With the score tied 49-49, Williams got a basket from junior guard Meghan Stetson (Oneonta, NY) with 5:00 remaining to take the lead for good, 51-49. A three-pointer by senior guard Colleen Hession (Northampton, MA) put the visiting Ephs ahead by five points (54-49) with 4:00 remaining before RPI cut it its deficit to four points on a Kristi Baranowski (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) free throw with 3:00 remaining. Williams got another basket by Stetson and three free throws from Hession following a free throw from Rensselaer for the final margin.
Hession finished with a game-high 20 points, including five three-pointers, to lead the Ephs. She also had three rebounds (0 offensive), two assists, a block and three steals in 36 minutes. Junior forward Maggie Miller (Wellesley, MA) recorded a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds (3 off.), along with two assists, four blocks and four steals in 35 minutes.
Rensselaer had three players reach double figures in points, led by Baranowski, who had 13 points with eight rebounds (3 off.), an assist, two blocks and two steals in 27 minutes. Freshmen guards Caitlyn Charest (Swansea, MA/LaSalle Academy) and Whitney Coleman (Etiwanda, CA/Etiwanda) had 11 points apiece for the Red Hawks.
Rensselaer returns to action on Saturday at 5pm when it hosts Bowdoin, the third-ranked team in the nation, at Robison Gym. Williams is back on the court this weekend when it hosts a tournament. The Ephs will face Simmons on Friday night at 8pm.