SCHENECTADY, NY — Junior guard
Jessica Glaz (Rockaway Beach, NY/Scholars Academy) became the eighth player in RIT (15-8, 8-6 Liberty League) women's basketball history to score 1,000 career points as the Tigers defeated Union College (11-9, 7-5 Liberty League) 80-50 in a critical Liberty League battle Tuesday evening.
The Tigers featured three players in double figures, as Glaz led the way with 24 points.
Taylor Burns (Rochester, NY/Greece Odyssey) tied her career-high with 21 points and tied a RIT single-game record with six made 3-pointers, going 6-for-9 from behind the arc.
Ashlynn Palmitesso (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) chipped in 15 points and nine boards.
Glaz reached the milestone on a 3-pointer with 8:32 to play in the fourth quarter. She is the second Tiger to reach the milestone in 10 days, as Palmitesso recorded her 1,000th career point on Jan. 28. Glaz was 23 points shy of 1,000 points heading into tonight. She scored four points in the first half, but exploded for 17 points in the third quarter before reaching the milestone early in the fourth.
"It was great to see Jess score her 1,000th point in her junior year," said head coach
Amy Reed. "We have had one other player in the history of the program do that, so it was a special night for her and for us."
RIT shot 46.8 percent from the floor on 29-of-62 shooting. The Tigers went 14-of-27 from behind the arc, and were 8-of-13 from the foul line. Defensively, RIT held Union to 32.2 percent shooting. RIT held a 44-34 rebounding edge, led by Palmitesso's nine boards.
The Tigers set a single-game team record by draining 14 shots from behind the 3-point arc.
"I was really proud of our defensive effort tonight," said Reed. "We did a very good job of keeping Union off the boards."
RIT led 25-10 after the first quarter. Burns led RIT with nine points in the quarter, while
Tara Lynch (Green Township, NJ/Newton) added seven points. Okada chipped in five points, while Palmitesso scored six points, including a put-back with time running out in the quarter to give RIT its largest lead.
Burns opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer and Palmitesso hit a jumper with 9:05 to play to make it 30-10 to give RIT its largest lead of the game to that point. RIT went cold after that, going 6:02 without scoring. Union pulled to within seven points on a 3-pointer from Nicole Conley with 4:02 to play to cut the RIT lead to 30-23. Glaz broke the scoreless drought for the Tigers, scoring on a layup with 3:43 to play in the half to make it 32-23 Tigers. Burns, who led RIT with 15 first-half points, drained a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with nine seconds to play to give RIT a 37-27 halftime lead.
RIT shot 41.7 percent from the floor in the first half on 15-of-36 shooting. Burns led RIT with 15 points, while Lynch added seven points, and
Cori Okada (Fullerton, CA/Troy) chipped in five points. Palmitesso came off the bench to score six points and grab five rebounds, including three offensive boards.
RIT pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Dutchwomen 31-16. Glaz' 17 points sparked the Tigers offense. Palmitesso scored 10 points in the quarter, while Burns tallied six to matching her career-high with 21 points.
With the win, RIT remains in the hunt for a top-four spot in the Liberty League standings and spot in the tournament. The Tigers are sixth in winning percentage behind Clarkson, Union and Vassar, who are tied for third with 7-5 conference records. RIT's has played two more conference games than each team in third.
"We are keeping the mentality of one quarter at a time," said Reed. "We need to keep thinking that and taking care of business so we can have a chance at a playoff spot."
The Tigers returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 15 when RIT faces William Smith College in Liberty League action from Geneva, N.Y. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.
