Middlebury, VT. 1/27/05 - Elyse Carlson hit a three from the left wing with five seconds left to give Middlebury a 54-51 win over Keene State in a non-conference women's basketball game played Thursday night at Pepin Gym. The Owls had a chance to tie the contest with a three at the buzzer, but a shot by Bri Barnes (Merrimack, N.H.) was off target.

Keene was held without a field goal for the game's first 5:53, while Middlebury held a slim 7-1 lead. The Panthers led by as many as nine in the first half before taking a seven-point advantage into the halftime break.

The Panthers (9-8) held a slim lead for much of the second half, increasing it to nine with 5:09 left. Keene State then went on a 9-0 run to earn its first tie of the game at 49-49 with 1:50 remaining. A pair of Jennifer Kelleher free throws gave Middlebury a two-point lead before Keene tied the game at 51 with a hoop at the 1:11 mark. Each team had a possession in the final 1:11 before Carlson's game-winning three.

Carlson ended the night with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Maryanne Verzosa added 10 points. Micaela McVary had another big game on the boards with 13.

Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) tied her career high with 16 points to go with 12 rebounds for KSC (11-7). No other Owl player scored in double-figures.

Keene State hosts UMass-Boston in a LEC game on Saturday (1 p.m.).