KEENE, N.H. 10/16/07 - The Keene State College women's basketball team opened its season with a 94-45 victory over Mount Ida College in a first-round game of the 12th Annual PC Connection KSC Tip Off Tournament played at Spaulding Gym on Friday.

Keene State, shooting for its 10th straight tip off title, will play Fitchburg State College in Saturday's championship game at 3 p.m.  Fitchburg State defeated Castleton State 55-37 in the second first-round game.  The Owls defeated the Falcons 72-64 in the finals of the 2005 tournament. 

The Owls jumped out to a 21-2 lead on the way to rolling to the win over the Mustangs.  KSC Coach Keith Boucher rotated in all 16 healthy players on his roster.
Sophomore forward Jess Johannesen (Warren, Vt.) led a balanced Owl offense with 13 points.  Freshman forward Mellissa Small (Saco, Me.) and sophomore forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) finished with 12 points each. 
Sophomore forward Jen Cleveland (Newington, Conn.) and Small tied for team high honors in rebounds with six a piece.

The Owls shot (33-62) 53% from the field and out-rebounded the Mustangs 53-30.

Boucher gave his team mixed grades.  "It's nice to start off with a win, but I didn't think we were disciplined on defense," said Boucher.  "On the positive side, a lot of people got playing time, we pushed the ball up the floor, and a couple of our freshman, Leighanne Woodward and Mellissa Small did a really nice job."

Junior guard Crystal Burgess (Lowell, Mass.) led Mount Ida with 11 points. Freshman guard Brienna Holiday (Dummerston, Vt.) finished with nine points and five rebounds. The Mustangs will face Castleton State in Saturday's consolation game at 1 p.m.

In the second game, Fitchburg State defeated Castleton State 55-37.

Fitchburg opened up a 10 point (27-17) halftime lead.  The Falcons began the second half with a 13-6 to pull ahead 40-23. 

Senior forward Diana Doyle (Springfield, Mass.) had 17 points to lead the Falcons.  Junior guard Mary Nienow (Middlebury, Vt.) had a game high 19 points for the Spartans.

Castleton State will face Mount Ida in Saturday's consolation game at 1 p.m.