'BOSTON, MA - Freshman guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) came off the bench to net a season-high 21 points to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team over host University of Massachusetts Boston, 88-61, in a Little East Conference game today at the Clark Athletic Center on the UMass Boston campus.  The Beacons fall to 8-12 on the season and 2-8 in the LEC, while the Owls improve to 13-8 and 7-3.

Following a 36-34 Keene State halftime lead, the Owls blew UMass Boston out in the second half, outscoring it, 52-27.  Keene State held UMB to just 31% (18-58) shooting for the game.

The Beacons jumped out to a 14-4 advantage with 15:18 showing on the first half clock, behind five points apiece from sophomore guard LaKeisha D. Tucker (Pawtucket, RI) and sophomore center Alicia Querusio (Somerville, MA).  The Owls came right back with nine straight points over the next 3:37 to pull to within 14-13 with 11:41 to go in the first half.  UMass Boston responded with the next seven points to take a 21-13 lead, but Keene State kept the see-saw battle going with a 16-7 run, paced by a pair of three-pointers from Boudreau, to take their first lead of the day at 29-28 with 5:01 to go in the first half.  The teams traded the lead four times, thereafter, until the Owls settled in with a 36-34 halftime lead. 

Keene State began the second stanza with a 13-4 run to take a 49-38 lead with 15:31 showing, but Tucker completed a three-point play for the Beacons to cut the deficit to 51-46 with 12:08 to play in the game.  That would be as close as UMass Boston would get as the Owls took control and closed out the game, outscoring the Beacons, 37-15.

Tucker led all scorers with 24 points, including a perfect 9-9 effort from the free throw line, while adding nine rebounds, two steals and an assist for UMass Boston.  Junior point guard Lydia Coverdale (Malden, MA) netted 15 points to go with six rebounds, two steals and a pair of assists.

Boudreau did most of her damage from three-point range for Keene State, knocking down five of six from downtown and added two assists, two steals and a rebound.  Jenn Kinney also represented for the KSC freshmen with 14 points, on 4-4 from the floor, six boards, two assists and a block in 21 minutes off the bench.  Sarah Begnoche posted a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, in addition to a pair of steals, an assist and a block, while Bri Barnes chipped in with 13 points, two rebounds, two steals and a game-high six assists.

The Beacons will be in action again on Tuesday, February 4 when they host University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in a Little East Conference tilt at 5:30 p.m., while the Owls host Eastern Connecticut State University on February 4 at 5:30 p.m.

(Courtesy UMB Sports Information)