PROVIDENCE, R.I. 12/15/01- Sophomore Aly Araque (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) scored a career-high 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Keene State College to a 73-43 Little East Conference women's basketball victory over Rhode Island College Saturday in Providence. Keene State improves to 5-3 (2-1 LEC) while R.I. College, which has lost seven out of its last eight games, falls to 2-8 (0-3 LEC).

Jumping out to a 22-9 lead, the Owls took their biggest lead in the first half, 15 points (27-12) on a three-point basket by Nicole Fargione (Colonie, NY) at the 6:40 mark. Leading 31-20 at half time, KSC pulled away from the Anchorwomen in the second half with a 21-6 run. Araque, who scored 16 of her points in the second half, put back a rebound to give the Owls a 52-26 lead with 12:04 to play. Fargione and Meghan Csizmesia (Arlington, Vt.) finished with 10 points each. Csizmesia, a three-time LEC rookie of the week recipient, also added nine rebounds, five assists and five steals.

The Owls launched 35 three-point attempts in the game, two shy of the school record set against St. Michaels College during the 1987 season. Becca Bissonnette (Danielson, CT) led RIC with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Keene State will play a pair of games in Florida over the break against St. Leo Univ. (Dec. 30) and Warner Southern (Jan. 2).