KEENE, N.H. 11/28/2006 - Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) had 18 points, including five three-pointers, to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a 70-60 non-conference win over Amherst College at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday.
Keene State (3-0) remains undefeated heading into Little East play at R.I. College on Saturday.
A rusty Owl team was able to stay with Amherst in the first half thanks to the three-point shooting of Boudreau who had 12 points. The sophomore point guard hit four of her five shots behind the arc, including one in the closing seconds that enabled KSC to pull even with the Lord Jeffs 26-all at the break.
"Our offense in the first half was Michele Boudreau," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher. "Her nick-name is "Mighty Mouse". Michele was playing a tough match-up defensively, so she was doing it at both ends."
"I found myself open a lot, so I just kept on taking the shot," said Boudreau. You get a little confidence when the ball is falling for you."
A stingy defense, that included three 30-second clock turnovers by Amherst and a warmed up offense enabled KSC to pull away in the late stages of the game.
"We executed down the stretch and shut them down," Boucher said. "The effort was fantastic tonight."
Caitlin Jamiel (Cranston, R.I.), who also pulled down eight rebounds, gave the Owls the lead for a good (49-47) with a three-pointer from the top of the key with 8:09 to play. That ignited a 15-6 KSC run that included seven points by Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.), including a backdoor lay-up off a nice feed from Bri Barnes (Merrimack, N.H.). "We have the chemistry together on the court, said Begnoche, who just missed her third straight double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. "It a good win against a NESCAC team."
Danielle Graveley (Schenectady, N.Y.), who hit a couple of key jumpers in the lane in the second half, had 11 points, and Barnes finished with 10 points.
KSC hit 12 of 26 three-points while the Lord Jeffs connected on two of 10.
Kerry O'Loughlin (Stow, Mass.) had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Stefanie Reiff (Hinsdale, Ill.) added 15 points and seven rebounds for Amherst (1-3).
After dropping the first six games in the series to Amherst, Keene State has won the last two meetings between the two teams.
