KEENE, N.H. 12/1/07 - Junior forward Stacey Kent (Northwood, N.H.) led a balanced offense with a game high 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead the University of Southern Maine to a come-from-behind 71-66 Little East Conference women's basketball victory over Keene State College at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.  It was the LEC opener for both teams who also met in last year's LEC championship won by USM.

Keene State (2-2, 0-1 LEC) dropped its second straight game.  Southern Maine, ranked ninth in the USA Today ESPN Poll and 12th in the D3Hoops rankings, improves to 5-0.

Senior guard Danielle Gravely (Schenectady, N.Y.) topped the Owls with 15 points. Junior forward Jenn Kinney (Salem, N.H.) and sophomore forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) chipped in with 11 point each and junior point guard Michelle Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) finished with 10 points.  Kinney had a team high seven rebounds.

Sophomore guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Me.) had 13 points, senior forward Shannon Kynoch (So. Burlington, Vt.) added 12 points, and senior forward Josalee Danieli (New Gloucester, Me.) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.

Keene State used as 13-1 run to go up 32-20 on a lay-up by sophomore forward Jess Johannesen (Warren, Vt.) at the 5:12 mark of the first half.
 

Gravely hit all three of her shots behind the arc to finish with 11 first half points as KSC took a 37-28 lead at the break.  Paradis had seven point for USM that struggled from the field (9-29) and (1-9) in three-point shooting.

The Huskies gradually whittled away the Owls lead in the second half. USM tied the game (48-all) on a pair of free throws by Danieli  at the 13:20 mark. The Huskies took the lead (53-52) a free throw by Kent and extended its lead to eight points (64-56) on a couple of free throws by freshman guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Me.) with 2:20 to play. 

The Owls made it interesting down the stretch.  A lay-up by Kinney cut the lead to three (67-64) with 22 seconds to go. 

Paradis hit two free throws to make it 69-64 with 20 seconds to play.

Sophomore guard Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) came down and hit a lay up to get the Owls within three (69-66) with 13 seconds left on the clock. But they would get no closer as Danielli hit two more free throws to account for the final score.    
 
Keene State is at Williams College on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.). Southern Maine host Colby (5:30 p.m.) on Wednesday.