TROY, NY – The RIT women's basketball team (9-2, 2-0 Liberty League) closed the opening weekend of Liberty League play with a sweep, beating Rensselaer (5-8, 1-3 Liberty League) 89-81 in an overtime battle on Saturday afternoon.  
 
Jessica Glaz (Rockaway Beach, NY/Scholars Academy) had a tremendous day on the boards, picking up a career-high 12 caroms along with 18 points to lead the Tigers, who outrebounded the Engineers 69-32. Amanda Olsen (Glen Mills, PA/Archmere Academy) led the way in scoring with 20 points, on 8-of-11 from the floor, as five RIT players scored in double digits. Tara Lynch (Green Township, NJ/Newton) also recorded a double-double, scoring 17 points and adding 10 rebounds, while Maria Edwards (Forrest Hill, MD/The Carroll School) notched a career-high 14 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists.
 
The Tigers were able to get second shot opportunities, converting 28 offensive rebounds into 24 second-chance points.
 
Shaina Iton scored 20 points to lead the Engineers, who had six players score in double figures. With the win, the Tigers have won five of the last six games against the Engineers, sweeping the Albany road trip after an 81-74 win at Skidmore on Friday evening.
 
"I thought we were more patient on offense in the second half and we picked up our defensive intensity," said RIT women's basketball head coach Amy Reed. "Jess Shields was a game changer for us defensively, and Amanda [Olsen] hit some huge shots down the stretch."
 
The Tigers jumped to an early 13-2 lead, thanks to on ball pressure from the RIT 'D', and consecutive 3-pointers from Glaz and Olsen. From there, the Engineers began chipping away at the lead, going inside with Iton and Lakissa Martin.
 
At the end of the first half, Iton converted on a basket while fouled, converting the free throw for the three-point play, giving RPI the 32-31 lead with 49 seconds left. Jessica Shields (Lyons, NY/Newark) went back the other way, getting a put back on an offensive rebound, giving RIT the halftime lead, 33-32.
 
From there, RPI took control to begin the second half. The Engineers pushed the lead to their largest, at 45-38, with six minutes to go in the third. The Tigers slowly chipped away at the lead, tying the game on a Taylor Burns (Rochester, NY/Greece Odyssey)3-pointer, that tied the game at 51.
 
In the fourth, both teams traded leads. After a made free throw by Edwards to bring the lead to two, at 70-68, RPI's Ashley Clough scored in the post to tie the game at 70. The Tigers put the ball in the hands of Cori Okada (Fullerton, CA/Troy) with the chance to win, and she drove in the lane and shot a floater in the paint, the shot dribbling in and out.
 
In the extra period, the Tigers came alive on offense, scoring 19 points, with Edwards sinking crucial free throws to put the game away.
 
The Tigers will return home and play in only their second home game of the season, taking on Union (9-2, 4-0 Liberty League) on Tuesday, January 12 at 6 p.m.