PHOENIX, AZ. 12/31/03 - Freshman guard Kristin Karat (Enfield, Conn.), who missed the Owls' first seven games of the season due to a back injury, came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a 73-57 victory over Gordon College at the Grand Canyon Trip Sports Classic played in Phoenix on Wednesday.

KSC, which rebounded from Monday's 102-65 loss to Wisconsin-Stout when they set a team record for points allowed, improves to 5-3.  Gordon College of Wenham, Mass., goes to 4-4.

Trailing 25-24 at the break, Keene State scored the first 16 points of the second half to take a commanding fifteen point lead (40-25) on a fast break lay-up by Cathy Mechare (Falls Village, Conn.). The Owls held the Fighting Scots scoreless until the 14:09 mark of the period.
 
"We stepped up our intensity defensively, caused some turnovers, and hit some shots," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.

Mechare put her name in the KSC record book with nine steals in the game.  The previous record of eight was held by Tina Gonyea and Sarah Linn.

Karat, who had 14-second half points, also hit a pair of baskets during the decisive run.  She finished the game with four three-point baskets, six rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 25 minutes of playing time. "Kristin gave us a big lift," Boucher added.  "She could be a big-time player for us once she gets in shape."

Sophomore forward Stacey Morse (Lebanon, N.H.) had another strong game for KSC with 15 points and seven rebounds.  Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) scored nine points while Andrea Arsenault (Dover, N.H.) topped the team with eight rebounds.

Caitlin Jamiel, a freshman forward from Cranston, R.I, also made her Owl debut after overcoming a bout with pneumonia.
 
Gordon College, which was facing Keene State for the first time, had four players in double figures.  Genny McWhorter led the Fighting Scots with 13 points while Sarah Deluca finished with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
The Owls will be at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Thursday, Jan. 8.