Dec. 29, 2006

Box Score

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute used a 13-2 run midway through the second half to pull away from Babson College en route to a 55-42 victory over the Beavers at the Surf City Classic at Vanguard University on Friday afternoon. With the loss, the Beavers fall to 3-5 on the year.

Rensselaer built a 14-point lead with five minutes remaining in the first half, but Babson closed the period with a 9-2 run to get to within five, 28-21, at the break. The Beavers then scored the first seven points of the second half, including five by junior guard Caitlin Boulier, to tied the contest at 28-28, and Babson later matched its largest lead of the game when sophomore Jillian Brooks sank a pair of free throws to put her team in front, 34-30, with 13 minutes left.

RPI pulled away for good with 10 minutes remaining, when the Engineers embarked on a 13-2 run that turned a 36-35 lead into a 49-37 advantage with five minutes remaining. Senior Suzy Ward and junior Linsey Poulson would each add buckets in the closing minutes for Babson, but it would not be enough to prevent the 55-42 loss.

Boulier led Babson with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while Ward just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Poulson chipped in with six points and nine boards, and senior captain Colleen Burke dished out a team-high four assists.

Whitney Coleman enjoyed a solid all-around game for RPI, recording 13 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Kristi Baranowski also notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Engineers forced 31 Babson turnovers in the contest while committing just 17 of their own.