St. Lawrence Women’s Basketball Defeats RPI on Senior Day
The St. Lawrence women’s basketball team had lost nine straight Senior Day games before this Saturday but would not let another one fall, especially with a home playoff game on the line.
After a close first half, they turned up the defensive pressure against RPI and led by as much as 24 during the fourth quarter. They won 65-51 in the Burkman Gymnasium in Canton, NY, in front of parents and fans alike.
RPI’s star junior guard, Siena Smith, had kept the Engineers in the game with 15 points in the first half, and Coach Dan Roiger knew the Saints needed a change in the second half.
“We started someone different on her, and we also doubled her when she touched the ball,” he said. “Honestly, we didn’t double much, because they quit [setting her up].”
After a quick seven points from Smith to start the second half, the Saints’ new defensive tactics kicked in, and she wouldn’t score again until the last couple of minutes of play. The Saints went on a 12-0 run to pull ahead by sixteen, part of a 24-4 run that continued until the middle of the fourth, led by sophomore guard Caelan McHarney.
“Senior Day, we talked about playing with more fire, more intensity,” said Roiger. “McHarney played great off the bench; she came in and gave us a big spark.”
“Before the game, my coach told me that yesterday I had one strong layup, but today I needed five,” McHarney said, explaining how she has learned to play with intensity and shake off mistakes in her whole career.
Sure enough, she came up big, depositing a season-high of 15 points and tying her career high. Smith totaled 27 points on the day for RPI, but McHarney was still the most impressive player on the court, earning her team several steals and diving rebounds.
Her defensive fire and offensive prowess helped put up a 24-point lead in the middle of the fourth, giving Roiger a chance to take out his starters a few minutes early and congratulate his seniors on the sidelines.
The seniors for St. Lawrence also earned this win, contributing 21 points among them with eight from Shannon Rhone, seven from Cam Roberts, and six from Katie Chisholm. They scored eight of the first 10 points for the Saints for a late first-quarter lead that did not relinquish for the rest of the night.
“Our seniors… had big games,” Roiger said. “They’ve been a great group, and I mean that because they’ve provided excellent leadership. We’ve had super team chemistry all year, and they set the tone for that.”
The Saints now look ahead to their home playoff game against Union on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. They finish the regular season at 12-13 (10-8 in the Liberty League) while RPI falls to 9-16 (6-12).