Potsdam, NY – A slow start in the fourth quarter carried over from the end of the third, as the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team fell behind late in a 74-63 defeat against RIT in Liberty League action Friday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Golden Knights dropped to 3-12 on the season and 1-7 in conference games, while RIT edged forward to 6-9 and 5-3. Clarkson will look to get on the winning track on Saturday when the team hosts William Smith College.

Both teams came out of the gate strong, appearing to be on pace for 80-plus points each. Raelin Burns' 3-pointer at 3:47 put the Knights up by five, 17-12, but RIT responded with an 11-0 run, capped off by a make from Sydney Pearson in the final minute. In the waning seconds, Emma Chambers hit a 3-pointer to put the gap at three (23-20) through the opening 10 minutes.

Clarkson regained the lead in the second quarter, twice pushing to a four-point advantage. Cassidy Dumont hit a 3-pointer at 5:04 to put the score at 33-29, but again RIT had a run, this time eight straight points to take the lead. The Knights would rally back, however, as Dumont hit a 3-pointer at the end of the half for a Clarkson one-point advantage at the break.

The game remained close in the third, as the teams exchanged the lead on several occasions. Clarkson was within one (49-48) late in the quarter, but the Tigers scored eight straight at the end of the period for a seven-point advantage. That drought by the Knights continued in the fourth, with RIT scoring eight more points (16-0 run overall). Bella Doyle broke through with a layup with just under six minutes to go, and Clarkson would eventually get back to within 10, but that would be as close as it would get, with RIT holding on for the double-digit win.

Raelin Burns and Bella Doyle each scored 18 points, with Burns hitting four 3-pointers and Doyle also making three steals. Cassidy Dumont also tossed in 13 points with three steals.

For RIT, Ansley Orrell had five 3-pointers and scored 23 points. Lila McGuiggan had a double-double on 10 points and 10 rebounds, while both Ella Wilson (13 points, 9 rebounds) and Faye Kaplinski (11 points, 9 rebounds) were close to that accomplishment as well.