First-year Olivia Middleton shot 4-for-6 from the arc and led the St. Lawrence University women's basketball team with 16 points, but the Saints closed the regular season with a 67-64 loss to the Engineers on senior day, Saturday, February 22, 2020.

Despite the loss, the Saints will advance to the Liberty League tournament as the third seed. The Saints fell to 17-8 overall and 13-5 in conference play, while the Engineers improved to 16-9 and 12-6, respectively and earned the fourth seed in the tournament.

Second to Middleton, Dylan Watkiss and Olivia Barringer both scored 10 points, while Katie Frederick grabbed a team-best 15 rebounds to go with eight points for Scarlet and Brown. Frederick finished with one block, while senior Caroline Rodi recorded one steal and one block.

Rensselaer opened a 21-14 lead after the first quarter, but St. Lawrence controlled the second and third, outscoring their visitors 17-13 and 23-14 in each of those frames. 

Leading 54-48 entering the fourth quarter, Ava McCann hit a 3-pointer to give the Saints a 57-48 lead with 7:41 to play. Sam Krumbhaar scored on a layup to make it 57-50. A steal from Celia Tomlinson, a layup from Krumbhaar, and a jumper from Ines Ortea brought the Engineers back within three points (57-54).

Olivia Barringer hit a free throw to break Rensselaer's run, but a 3-pointer from Brielle Sharry pulled the Engineers to within one point and a pair of free throws from Krumbhaar gave Rensselaer a 59-58 advantage. The Engineers pulled ahead 63-58, but Middelton knocked down a 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to pull the Saints back within one. Krumbhaar sealed the win for the Engineers shooting 2-for-2 from the line.

"A disappointing loss today, as we found a way to give it up with major breakdowns in the last two minutes," said head coach Dan Roiger. "We are an undisciplined young team that is learning to be consistent in our performance, but also our own worst enemy. When we learn to play each possession like it is the game winner, then we will become an excellent team."



Krumbhaar led the Engineers with 25 points, while classmates Ines Ortea and Tomlinson had 16 and 15, respectively. Tomlinson added game-highs of 18 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

St. Lawrence shot 41.0 percent from the field and 52.4 percent from the arc and tallied 31 points off the bench, while Rensselaer shot 36.9 percent from the field and recorded 20 points off turnovers.

Prior to tonight's game, the Saints honored the two members of the Class of 2020 – Caroline Rodi and Annabella Pugliese.

The Saints will host RIT in a first-round game on Tuesday, February 25 at 7 p.m.