TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Fightin' Engineers recorded a big-time victory over the Manchester Spartans, winning by a score of 67-62.
 
The Fightin' Engineers opened the game playing lockdown defense, where they recorded two quick steals that each led to two-pointers by Emma Schipp. Katelyn Fennell added a three-pointer on the fast break, and Reese closed out the quarter by scoring on an and-one layup as RHIT took a 14-10 lead.
 
Schipp and Reese each scored layups atop the second quarter, where the Fightin' Engineers extended their lead to eight.
 
The Spartans would respond with a 10-0 run to take the lead, before a two-point jumper from Schipp tied the game at 20 apiece. The Spartans were able to close out the quarter on a 3-4 shooting streak, which allowed them to jump into the lead by a score of 27-20 at the half.
 
The Fightin' Engineers caught fire early in the second half, as they recorded eight consecutive field goals without a miss. The sensational run started with a pair of shots in the paint from CK Gallegos Rodriguez and Reese. Rose-Hulman's defense would then record back-to-back steals, leading to a fastbreak layup from Schipp and a go-ahead three-pointer from Fennell.
 
The run would continue as Reese cashed a three-pointer immediately after Manchester's timeout. Gallegos Rodriguez recorded a steal and an assist on María Godoy Rodriguez's fast break layup, and Fennell scored on a tough and-one basket the following possession.
 
Rose-Hulman would cap off the run with Fennell swishing a three-pointer as the Fightin' Engineers took back the lead by a score of 40-31.
 
The Spartans reduced their deficit to three points, but Reagan Lorenzen would extend Rose's as she knocked down a two-point basket. Manchester would add a two-pointer late in the third quarter, where the Fightin' Engineers would enter the fourth up 46-44.
 
Manchester took the lead early in the fourth, as they opened the period with a three-pointer. That lead did not last long, however, as Julia Meyer responded with a top-of-the-key three-pointer to put RHIT ahead 49-47.
 
The game remained very competitive throughout the fourth quarter, and the Spartans would take a 55-53 lead following consecutive two-point baskets. With 2:30 left in the game, Kaia Peterson recorded a clutch steal, where she was fouled on the fast break. She stepped up to the line and swished both her free throws, tying the game at 55 apiece.
 
Following a 1-2 showing from Manchester at the free throw line, Schipp drove to the basket and scored a contested layup to give Rose-Hulman a one-point lead. Peterson would then record another incredible steal, and she scored a fastbreak layup to put Rose-Hulman ahead 59-56 with 50 seconds remaining.
 
With Manchester forced to foul, Peterson and Gallegos Rodriguez each shot 2-2 at the line to extend the lead to seven. The Spartans were able to cut into the lead off a deep three-pointer, but Fennell would ice the game at the line as Rose-Hulman secured the 67-62 win.
 
After scoring just 20 points in the first half, the Fightin' Engineers put together one of their best second halves of the season, scoring 26 in the third and 21 in the fourth. With the victory, the Fightin' Engineers have improved from the #9-seed to the #7-seed in the HCAC standings, while the Spartans have dropped to the #9-seed in the conference.
Emma Schipp scored a team-high 15 points, where she shot 6-12 from the floor and 3-4 at the charity stripe. She added two rebounds and one steal.
 
Sophia Reese put up 14 points, shooting 6-11 from the floor, 1-2 from three, and 1-1 at the free throw line. She recorded two rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
 
Katelyn Fennell also scored 14 points, while shooting 3-5 from beyond the arc, and 3-3 at the free throw line. She recorded three rebounds, a team-high four assists, two steals, and one block.
 
Kaia Peterson dropped eight points, shooting 2-6 from the floor and a perfect 4-4 at the free throw line. She hauled in a team-high five rebounds, dished out three assists, and recorded two steals.
 
CK Gallegos Rodriguez recorded seven points as she shot 2-2 from the field and 3-4 from the charity stripe. She matched Peterson with a team-high five rebounds while adding three assists and a team-high four steals.
 
María Godoy Rodriguez recorded team-highs of four assists and four steals, while adding one blocked shot.
 
The Fightin' Engineers will look to make it two wins in a row as they face Berea on the road. The match will tip off on Friday, January 23, at 4 PM.