'KEENE, N.H. 1/24/06 - Stacey Morse (Lebanon, N.H.) had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Bri Barnes (Merrimack, N.H.) finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists to lead Keene State College to a 69-54 victory over rival Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference women's basketball game played at Spaulding Gym.

The game was decided in the final 5:47 of play when the Owls outscored the Panthers 16-2. A  pair of free throws by Colleen Mahoney (North Attleboro, Mass.) got PSU within one (55-54) at the 4:29 mark.  It was all Keene State from there.  Morse had six points and freshman Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) hit four of six free throws down the stretch  to help KSC pull away.

"The biggest thing is we didn't stop playing defense," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.  We got the ball inside and made some free throws and created some breathing room, so we could relax and play our game."    

Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) had 12 points and eight rebounds for KSC (10-8, 5-3 LEC).

Meghan MacDonald (Salem, N.H.) had 12 points and Kaitlin Linehan (South Boston, Mass.) finished with nine points for the Panthers (6-10, 3-5 LEC).

Up by 11 (30-19) with 5:12 to go, the Owls had to settled for a 35-31 halftime lead.  Caitlin Jamiel (Cranston, R.I.) had 11 first half points for KSC. 

Keene State hosts Middlebury College on Thursday (7 p.m.).