KEENE, N.H. 1/10/04 - Senior forward Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead sixth-ranked University of Southern Maine to a 68-43 victory over Keene State College in a Little East Conference game played Saturday at Spaulding Gym.

It was the eighth straight win for USM (11-1, 3-0 LEC), which has defeated Keene State in all its 15 meetings since the Owls joined the LEC in 1997-98.  Keene State falls to 5-5 and 1-1 in conference play.

Freshman guard Kristin Karat (Enfield, Conn.) had 12 points and sophomore forward Stacey Morse (Lebanon, N.H.) finished with 10 points to lead KSC.  Freshman forward Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) added a team-high seven rebounds.

Keene State trailed by just three points (34-31) at the break before the Huskies pulled away in the second half. 

Karat's fourth three-pointer of the first half gave KSC a seven point lead (28-21) at the 4:55 mark of the first half. USM closed the half with a 13-3 run to take the lead for good. 

 With KSC hitting just four of its 29 shots from the field, Southern Maine continued to extend its leads in the second half.   A three-pointer by Lindsey Welch (Newport, Me.) made it a 56-40 game with 8:14 to play.  USM also hit 19 of its 24 shots form the line.

 Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Me.) scored 15 points and Megan Myles (Turner, Me.) finished with 14 points and nine rebounds for USM.

 Keene State hosts Western Conn., in a LEC game on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).