The St. Lawrence University women's basketball team fell to RPI 53-45 on Friday afternoon in Burkman Gymnasium in their penultimate home game of the regular season.

Jackie Malley and Olivia Middleton each scored 10 points to lead the Saints. Cam Roberts added seven points, six rebounds, and two blocks.

After leading 27-17 at halftime, the Saints gave up 11-straight points to start the second half and quickly found themselves down 28-27. The game remained a one possession difference until the Engineers scored six-straight to start the second half and jumped out to a four-point lead at 40-36. St. Lawrence was never able to draw even, and RPI hit their final five free-throws to secure the win 53-45.

 
"Very disappointing loss tonight," said head coach Dan Roiger. "We just never got in a groove and played really poorly. We had lots of opportunities to make plays but just didn't get it done, especially in the second half, and RPI earned the win, we didn't. That's the part of sports I love, you usually get what you deserve. Unfortunately tonight, we didn't play well enough to deserve to win."

Heather Converse led RPI with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. Danielle Strauf also finished in double figures with 11 points.

First-year Caelan McHarney had six points to go along with three steals, three rebounds, and two assists. Olivia Barringer grabbed eight rebounds, while scoring four and coming up with two steals.

Both teams shot 32.8-percent from the floor, but the Engineers got to the line seven more times, and made seven more free throws, which proved to be the difference.

Prior to the game seniors Olivia Middleton and Olivia Barringer were honored as the two members of the Class of 2023.

St. Lawrence fell to 13-8 and 9-6 in the Liberty League and remain in fourth place in the league standings. RPI is just behind them in fifth place with a 7-8 record in the conference, and are 10-12 overall.

The Saints return to Burkman Gymnasium on February 11^th to host Ithaca at 2 p.m.