KEENE, N.H. 1/19/08 - Senior guard Danielle Graveley (Schenectady, N.) and sophomore forward Jen Cleaveland (Newington, Conn.) took advantage of rare starts to lead the Keene State women's basketball team to a 66-51 Little East Conference victory over UMass-Boston at Spaulding Gym on Saturday. 
 

Graveley, who was subbing for the ill Nicole Simmler, had a career high 19 points and Cleaveland, subbing for Jenn Kinney (Salem, N.H.), who was nursing a knee injury, scored 11 points and pulled down a career best 16 rebounds to lead the Owls (10-5, 3-2 LEC) to their eighth win in nine games. 
 

"I knew I had to step it up," said Cleaveland.  "UMass-Boston is a big team, so I was happy I was able to help out rebounding."
 

"The same thing happened on our trip to California when we were missing two of our starters, so we've been there before," said Graveley. "I hit my first few shots and it gave me some confidence."

"Danielle leads by example," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.  "She did an outstanding job playing the post for us today. Jen continues to improve. She gave us a tremendous effort on the boards."
 

Guards, Michelle Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) with 13 points and Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.), who finished with 12 points, also had solid games for the Owls.
 

The Owls jumped out to an early 12-2 lead on a lay-up by Cleaveland.
 

The Beacons battled back to take the lead (16-15) on a basket by Caroline Ash (West Roxbury, Mass.) at the 9:10 mark.  In the closing seconds of the half, Graveley, who finished with 10 first half points, knocked down her third three-pointer.  Ashe, who had 11 first half points, answered with a lay-up, as KSC went to the locker room with a 29-26 lead.
 

The Owls pulled away in the second half.  A conventional three-point play by Graveley put KSC up 37-29 at the 16:07 mark. Sapp heated up scoring 10 of her second half points in a span of five minutes.  Kristen Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) gave the Owls their biggest lead (51-37) when she hit a short jumper off a break with 7:28 to play.
 

KSC hit 23 of its 27 shots from the line while UMB struggled from the charity stripe (5-13).
 

Freshman guard Norma Cumbee (Malden, Mass.) scored a team high 17 points for the Beacons (6-7, 1-4 LEC). Ashe finished with 11 points, and senior guard Myrna Tangar (Randolph, Mass.) had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 

On Tuesday, Keene State hosts rival Plymouth State and UMass-Boston returns home to face Southern Maine (5:30 p.m.).