TROY, N.Y. - Junior Ashley Loggins had team-highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Clarkson University women's basketball team to a 72-66 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in a critical Liberty League contest. The Golden Knights improve to 10-4 in the league and move into second place, while the Engineers drop into a tie for fourth place with a 9-5 mark with two games remaining. The top four teams in the league qualify for the playoffs.

Loggins (Albany, NY / Colonie) made 7 of 13 shots from the floor and pulled down 12 defensive rebounds with three steals and an assist to pace the visitors. She was aided by sophomore Stephanie Grobe (White River Junction, VT / Hartford), who had 13 points and six rebounds, as well as senior Cara Manfredi (Glastonbury, CT / Geneseo), who had 11 points and a team-best four assists. 

The Engineers were led by senior Amanda Lynch (Middletown, NY / John S. Burke) and junior Ashley Clough (West Chesterfield, NH / Keene), who had 24 and 20 points, respectively. Lynch added a team-best eight rebounds with four steals, while Clough had seven rebounds and three assists. 

The game was tight through the first 6:30 before the Golden Knights went on a 22-8 run to take a 30-15 advantage with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. Loggins (7 points) and Manfredi (5 points) were the catalysts for Clarkson, which held a double digit lead the rest of the half. 

A jumper by freshman Madison Shea (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa) put the Golden Knight ahead by 18 points, 45-27, at the beginning of the second half and Clarkson built a 21-point lead, 57-36, nine minutes later. Rensselaer went on to score twice as many points as the Knights, 30-15, but could not cut the deficit to anything less than five points - and that came with only 31 seconds remaining.

RPI, which is 13-10 overall, closes out the regular season with a game at Vassar College on Friday (6pm) and the regular season finale against Bard College on February 22 in Troy (2pm). The Golden Knights, who are 17-6 overall, also have two games left: Friday against first place St. Lawrence University (6pm) and Sunday at third place Skidmore College (2pm).