POTSDAM, N.Y.- The RIT women's basketball team (4-9, 1-4 Liberty League) won their first game in 2013 and broke a five-game losing streak with a 60-49 win at Clarkson (2-12, 0-6) on Friday night. #Leslie Havens (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) led RIT with 16 points and (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove)Courtney Tennant (Cortland, NY/Cortland)# added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Clarkson was led by 25 points and 11 rebounds from Ashley Loggins but ran their losing streak to eight games. Loggins shot 10-for-14 from the field, but the rest of the Golden Knights shot a combined 6-for-33 (18.2 percent).

RIT shot an identical 42.9 percent from the field and from the three point line and forced Clarkson into 22 turnovers.  

The Tigers dominated the first 20 minutes of play, shooting 58 percent from the field and 56 percent from the three point line in the first half. The Tigers led by as much as 13 when #Kelly Van Epps (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland)# hit back-to-back three pointers with just under three minutes to play in the half, extending the lead to 30-17. Clarkson would cut the deficit to 32-22 at the break, the fourth time in the last six games the Tigers had the lead going into the locker room.

RIT held Clarkson to 8-for-21 from the field and 1-of-9 from three but Loggins did her best to keep Clarkson in the game, scoring 16 of the team's 22 first half points.

The Tigers featured a balanced attack with five players scoring at least five points. Tennant and #Ashlynn Palmitesso (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley)# were each perfect from the field and scored six points.

Tennant scored eight of RIT's first twelve points in the second half as RIT extended the lead to 44-30 at the 12-minute mark. A quick 6-0 spurt in just over a minute gave RIT its biggest lead of the game at 50-32 with eight-and-a-half minutes left in regulation. A late 10-2 run by the Golden Knights cut the lead to 58-48 with just under two minutes left in the game, but a #Sarah Wolcott (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton)# jumper ended any thoughts of a comeback for Clarkson.  

RIT swept the Golden Knights last season, winning 62-53 at Clark Gym and 62-59 at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Tigers return to action tomorrow as they travel to St. Lawrence for a 2 p.m. contest. The Saints are currently in first place in the Liberty League and are 4-0 in conference play.