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POTSDAM, NY -- On the strength of a big second half, the RIT (9-10, 5-5 Liberty League) women's basketball team defeated Carkson University (7-11, 2-8 Liberty League) 62-59 in a key Liberty League game on Friday night. The win pulls the Tigers to within a game of Vassar for fourth place in the Liberty League standings.

Trailing by four points at the hlaf, RIT outscored Clarkson 36-28 in the second half to pick up their ninth win of the season. 

The Tigers took their first lead since the first  half on a bucket by #Alex Kelley (Rochester, NY/Brighton)# with 9:32 to play in regulation. 

With the score tied at 50-50, RIT ripped off a 10-1 run over a four minute period to build a nine point lead. #Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa)# scored six of RIT's 10 points, converting two old fashioned three point plays.

Wheeler finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. She scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half and had six offensive rebounds.

#Sarah Wolcott (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton)# added 11 points, while #Jess Kramer (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) and Leslie Havens (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton)# each added seven points.

The Tigers trailed by nine points midway through the first half, but a 10-0 run by RIT gave the Tigers a two point lead on a pair of free throws by #Audrey Mincey (Neptune, NJ/Neptune)#.

RIT extended the lead to 24-19 with 5:42 to play, but Clarkson outscored RIT 11-2 over the final minutes to take a four point lead.

RIT shot 33.8 percent from the field on 22-of-65 shooting. The Tigers were 3-of-30 from three point land, but were 15-of-22 from the free throw line.

RIT returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. versus the first place St. Lawrence Saints.