'GORHAM, ME 12/14/02 –  Freshman guard Katie Frost (Calais, ME) blocked freshman guard Liz Donnelly's (Littleton, N.H.) potential game-tying three-pointer with 2.3 seconds remaining, and the University of Southern ME Huskies overcame a furious second-half rally by the Keene State College Owls to post a 70-67 triumph in Little East Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Hill Gymnasium.

With the win Southern ME improves to 7-1 and 2-0 in the conference, while Keene State slips to 5-4 and 0-2. The teams return to action on Saturday January 4, when Keene State faces Baruch in the opening round of the SUNY-Potsdam Tournament, while Southern ME will tangle with Muhlenberg College in the first round of the Naismith Classic at Springfield, MA.

A short jumper by senior forward Kara Crockett (Glenburn, ME) gave the Huskies a seemingly comfortable 59-48 advantage with 9:25 to play in regulation. However the Owls responded with a 12-2 run, culminating on a lay up by junior forward Andrea Arsenault (Dover, N.H.) to pull within 61-60 with 5:20 to play.

Southern ME received a pair of free throws from junior guard Meg Cressler (Appleton, ME) and an old-fashion three-point play from classmate Nikki Allen (Blue Hill, ME) to forge a 66-60 lead with 2:20 to play.

Keene answered with a 4-2 run to pull within 68-64 with 48 seconds to play. A free throw from Cressler gave the Huskies a 69-64 lead with 34.8 seconds to play, but senior forward Hayley Alaimo (Ellington, CT) drained a three-pointer to pull the Owls within 69-67 with 18.3 seconds remaining.

Freshman guard Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, ME) sank one of two free throws to give the Huskies a 70-67 advantage with 10.2 seconds to play, before Frost preserved the win by blocking Donnelly's shot.

Keene State made more field goals than Southern ME (26-20) and registered a higher shooting percentage (.500 - .392). However the Huskies dominated the boards (42-28), and converted on 26-40 free throws, while the Owls attempted but 12 and made nine.

Jones led four Huskies in double figures with 16 points, while Allen added 15 points, Cressler contributed 14 points and a game high 11 rebounds, and Frost finished with 11  points.

For the Owls, Alaimo scored 16 points, while freshman forward Stacey Morse (Lebanon, N.H.) added 14, and Arsenault and senior guard Julie Tardif (Atkinson, N.H.) contributed 10 points apiece.