'NEW LONDON, NH......Trailing 41-40 with 5:31 to play, the second-seeded Colby-Sawyer women's basketball team scored eight straight points and advanced to the semifinals of the ECAC Division III New England Women's Basketball Tournament, for the first time in three tries, with a 52-48 home victory over the No. 7 Keene State Owls.  The Chargers, who avenged a road loss in last year's quarterfinals, will take on No. 3 Babson, an 85-61 quarterfinal winner over No. 6 Gordon, on Saturday at Plymouth State at 3:00 p.m.

The game had nine ties and 14 lead changes, including a 21-21 deadlock at the break.  Keene State held the largest edge of the opening period (14-9) before Colby-Sawyer answered with five straight points to cause the fourth draw of the night.  The Chargers opened a 31-26 lead with just under 13 minutes on the clock and the Owls answered with six consecutive points to pull ahead by one.

The score continued to see-saw back and forth until K.J. Krasco (FR, Medford, MA/Medford HS) drew a foul while converting a layup that gave Colby-Sawyer a 42-41 edge it would not relinquish with 4:56 remaining.  Following a missed free throw, Anne Coulter (FR, Hudson, NH/Bishop Guertin HS) put back an offensive rebound and teammate Lisa Cole (SO, Athol, MA/Athol HS) stole the ball on the ensuing possession and drove down the court to nail a jumper.  The Owls missed their next shot and another bucket by Coulter made it an 8-0 run.

Bekka Hopkins (FR, Oxford, MA/Oxford HS) ended the spurt with a layup and Jaime Peterman (SO, Nottingham, NH/Coe-Brown Northwood Academy) pushed the Chargers' advantage back to six (49-43) by making one of two attempts from the stripe.  Keene State pulled within two on baskets by Hayley Alaimo (SR, Ellington, CT/Ellington HS) and Stacey Morse (FR, Lebanon, NH/Lebanon HS) but would not draw any closer.

The Chargers over came a 29.0 field goal percentage (20-for-69) by out-rebounding the Owls 59-35, including a 29-8 advantage on the offensive glass.  Krasco and Sue Ganas (SR, Shrewsbury, MA/Shrewsbury HS) each recorded double-doubles and career-high nights on the boards.  Krasco tallied 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Ganas had 13 points and 14 caroms for the Chargers (20-7) who recorded their fifth 20-win season in the last seven years.

Andrea Arsenault (JR, Dover, NH/Dover HS) was the lone Owl to score in double figures (11) and Morse chipped in nine points.  Alaimo grabbed a team-high eight rebounds for Keene State, which finished its season at 16-12.