TROY, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell on the road to the RPI Engineers by a score of 53-42 on Monday evening. 

Leading the way for the Pioneers was Vanessa Hall (Independence, NY/Whitesville Central) who tallied 16 points (5-16 FG, 6-8 3PT), followed by Carly Atty (Tribes Hill, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) (8pts, 205 FG, 1-3 3PT, 3-4 FT). Leading the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers was Hall who managed to haul in eight boards, while Madison Marusic (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) and Madison LaDuke (Massena, NY/Massena Central) each managed seven. Defensively, Atty and LaDuke each nabbed a pair of steals, while LaDuke, Marusic, Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes), and Jayla Bell (Lyons, NY/Lyons) each recorded a block. 

Utica came out flying and absolutely owned the first quarter. After an early pair of free throws from Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg), the Pioneers stacked stops on top of scores with Cornell, Marusic, and McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) and Hall all finishing at the rim, and Atty drilled a three in the final seconds to cap a 16–2 opening frame. Defensively, Utica forced a string of RPI turnovers and contested everything in the paint, holding the Engineers without a field goal for most of the period.

RPI slowly settled in during the second, but Utica still controlled the half. Hall and Marusic answered each Engineers push, and Atty's mid-range jumper in the final two minutes helped Utica take a 21–17 lead into the locker room.

The game flipped after halftime. RPI opened the third quarter on a surge, using threes and fastbreak layups to erase the deficit and eventually grab a 32–31 lead at the end of three. Utica stayed in it behind a series of tough drives from Vanessa Hall (Independence, NY/Whitesville Central), who repeatedly attacked the paint and knocked down a pair of free throws to keep it close heading into the final frame. 

In the fourth, RPI took over. A sequence of threes, plus multiple layups, turned a one-possession game into a double-digit margin in the final two minutes. Utica kept fighting with Hall, Herring, and Atty all chipping in late points, but RPI closed it out at the stripe to finish off the comeback and win it 53–42.

Utica (3-4, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action on Wednesday, December 3 as the team takes on its final matchup of the 2025 slate against the SUNY Canton Kangaroos. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 5pm.