KEENE, N.H. 2/10/04 - Freshman Bri Barnes (Merrimack, N.H.) who missed the Owls' last four games with a strained knee injury, came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a 76-49 Little East Conference victory over rival Plymouth State University in Keene on Tuesday night.

Keene State, which had lost seven of its last eight games, improves to 9-12 and remains in contention for a home tournament game with a 4-7 LEC record.  Plymouth State Univ. falls to 10-12 and 4-7 in league play.

Three other Owls scored in double figures.  Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) and Andrea Arsenault (Dover, N.H.) each finished with 12 points while Bekka Hopkins (Oxford, Mass.) chipped in with 11 points. Begnoche also had a season and game-high 11 rebounds. 

Keene State took control of the game midway through the first half when they extended a nine point lead (15-6) into a 20-point cushion (38-18) on a pair of free throws by Arsenault.  KSC maintained its 20-point lead (42-22) at the break.

The Panthers cut the lead to 12 points (46-34) on a basket by Mandi Allen (Blue Hill, Me.) at the 14:31 mark, but Keene State built it advantage back up to 20 points   (54-34) on a hoop by Stacey Morse (Lebanon, N.H.) over the next three minutes of play.

Allen and Colleen Mahoney North Attleboro, Mass.) tied for the PSC team-high with 11 points each.  Katie Susat (Glastonbury, Conn.) added eight points and a team-best seven rebounds.

The two teams split their regular-season meetings with PSU prevailing 83-78 in Plymouth.  The Panthers had won the last five games between the two teams.

Keene State travels to Western Conn. on Saturday (1 p.m.).