'Willimantic, Conn.- Keene State's Bri Barnes (Merrimack, NH)
had 13 points and three steals and Sarah Begnoche (Millville, MA)
and Emily Flewelling (Pittsford, VT) each recorded 11 points, but
the Owls came up short in a 67-65 loss to Eastern Conn. State Univ.
on Tuesday.
Freshman Kate Brunet (BRISTOL) led the Warriors with 20 points
and went 12 for 13 from the foul line in the Little
East Conference game played at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
The Warriors continue their six-game winning steak advancing
their overall record to 11-1 and 5-1 in the little east, still
leaving them a game behind conference leader University of Southern
Maine, while Keene's record falls to 8-8 overall and 3-3 in
conference play.
Freshmen Nicky Morey (COLUMBIA) and Ashley McFetridge (CANTON)
had nine points a piece while senior Katie Kline (NORTH BROOKFIELD,
MA) tallied eight. Morey led the team in rebounds with a
career high nine grabs followed by Brunet and Kline with seven
apiece.
With 2.3 seconds left in the game junior Sandy Mosley (GOSHEN)
passed the ball off to Brunet who was fouled on her shot, by Keene
defender Begnoche. Brunet made both free throws to give
Eastern a two point lead. Keene's Caitlin Jamiel (Cranston,
RI), who was seeing her first seconds of the game, threw the
inbound pass to Dainelle Gravely (Schenectady, NY). Gravely
couldn't get a good look at the basket through two Eastern
defenders and failed to hit the rim on a three point shot at the
buzzer giving the Warriors the win.
The first 20 minutes remained close despite the 36-27 half-time
score thanks to a nine point run by the Warriors with two minutes
left in the half. The run was led with a three point bucket
by Morey off of an assist from Stephanie Smith (PENACOOK,
NH). Morey returned the favor seconds later, passing the ball
off, after a Keene turnover, to Smith for another three-point
basket. Morey ended the Eastern run with five of her eight
points at the half.
Eastern shot 43.4 percent for the game and 79.2 percent from the
foul line while Keene shot 40.0 percent for the game and 66.7
percent from the line. Eastern out-rebounded the Owls 42 to
26 but was hurt by 23 turnovers compared to the Owls' 15.
Keene State will be on the road to face R.I. College on Saturday
(1 p.m.). Eastern takes a break from conference action and travels
to the U.S Coast Guard Academy on Thursday, January 19.
(Courtesy ECSU Sports Information)
