KEENE, N.H. 12/1/01- Aly Araque (Hopewell, Junction, N.Y.) had 18 points, Meghan Csizmesia (Arlington, Vt.) added 17 points, and Erika Forsberg (Laconia, NH) had 12 points and a career high 18 rebounds to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a 84-72 victory over UMA-Boston Saturday at Spaulding Gym.

Keene State improves to 4-1 (1-0 LEC) while UMA-Boston (4-1, 0-1 LEC) suffered its first loss of the season. It was the first conference game of the season for both teams. Csizmesia had 14 first half points as the Owls went ahead 37-29 at the break.

The Beacons outscored the Owls 9-0 coming out of the break and got the deficit down to one point (38-37) on a three-point play by Andreen Gilpin (Boston, MA.) at the 15:45 mark.

KSC eventually pulled way from UMB taking its biggest lead 58-41 with 6:19 to play on a pair of free throws by Cathy Mechare (Falls, Village, CT).

Sarah Linn (Brattleboro, Vt.) (13 points and eight assists) and Mechare (11 points) also finished in double figures for the Owls.

Gilpin had a game high 23 points and 11 rebounds and Kristen Bowes (Quincy, MA.) added 18 points for the Beacons.

Both teams combined for 50 turnovers in the game.

Keene State travels to Williams College for a non-conference game on Tuesday (7 p.m.).