CHICAGO, Ill. – The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology women's basketball team improved to 2-1 on the season with a strong defensive effort in a 73-31 victory over Illinois Institute of Technology on Monday night.

The victory marked the fewest points that Rose-Hulman has allowed in a women's basketball game since December 2002, when the Fightin' Engineers defeated CalTech 80-20.

Rose-Hulman got off to a fast start in the first ten minutes.  A jumper from senior Gracie Gibbs gave the Engineers a 21-11 advantage with 10:55 to play in the first half. Rose-Hulman extended its lead to 26 points, outscoring the Scarlet Hawks 20-4 over the final 11 minutes of the first half.

Gibbs paced the Engineers offensively scoring 12 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Freshman Alyzia Dilworth scored 11 points in 15 minutes, scoring in double figures for the first time in her career.

Other key contributors for the Fightin' Engineers included sophomore Kristen Belyea and sophomore Jamie Loving with eight points each.  Junior Cassidy Cain added five points and three assists for a Rose-Hulman offensive attack that featured 13 players reaching the scoring column.

The Engineers played stout defense, forcing Illinois Institute of Technology to shoot a meager 16.3 percent (7-43) from the field. Rose-Hulman also held a distinct advantage in rebounding, grabbing 48 rebounds compared to 33 for the Scarlet Hawks.

Rose-Hulman now stands at 2-1 on the season and returns to action Friday, Nov. 28, for a 5 p.m. game at Colorado College.