'KEENE, N.H. 1/26/06  - Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) scored  14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead Keene State College to a 50-46 victory in a non-conference women's basketball game played at Spaulding Gym on Thursday night.

It was the third straight win for the Owls (11-8) while Middlebury goes to 12-5.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half of the game, which was delayed an hour and 20 minutes due to a mix-up in the assignment of officials. KSC took a slim    19-17 lead in the low-scoring first half..  The Owls, who hit just seven of 26 shots (27%), were led by Begnoche  with seven points.  Connecting on just seven of 28 shots (25%), the Panthers were led by Katie Fisher (Oakland, Ca.) with six points.

Middlebury began the second half with a 12-2 run to take a 29-21 lead on a three-pointer by Fisher at the 15:42 mark.  The Owls responded with a 12-2 run of their own that included back-back-to back three-pointers by Emily Flewelling (Pittsford, Vt.) that put the Owls up 33-31 at 11:35. 

KSC pulled away from Middlebury later in the half.  A pair of three-pointers by Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) and conventional three-point play by Begnoche put the Owls up 47-39 with 2:52 to go.

Boudreau, who connected on three, three-pointers in the second half, finished with nine points.

Fisher led Middlebury with 15 points.  Micaela McVary (Springfield, Ill.) and Alanna Young (Concord, N.H.) added nine points each.  Young had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Keene native Lacey Hebert had six points and three assists.

Keene State returns to Little East play on Saturday when it hosts UMass-Dartmouth (1 p.m.).