KEENE, N.H. 1/31/08 - Sophomore guard Nicole Simmler (Oxford,
Mass.) had a game-high 18 points and nine rebounds and four Owls
players scored in double figures as Keene State College defeated
Middlebury College 65-59 in non-conference women's basketball
action at Spaulding Gym on Thursday night.
In addition to Simmler, junior guard Michele Boudreau
(Readsboro, Vt.) and senior guard Danielle Graveley (Schenectady,
N.Y.) had 13 points each, and sophomore guard Kristen Degou
(Newburyport, Mass.) finished with 11 points for the Owls (12-7),
who snapped a two game losing streak.
"We came out with more intensity today," said Simmler.
"When it got close, we did a good job of looking for the best
shot."
The Owls jumped out to an early lead, going up 14-2 on a
lay-up by junior point guard Boudreau.
The Panthers came back to cut the deficit to five points
(25-20) on a driving basket by senior forward Alana Young (Concord,
N.H.) with 2:31 to play.
Degou hit a spinning left-handed lay-up in the closing
seconds to give KSC a 31-22 halftime lead.
Consecutive three-pointers by Degou, senior guard Graveley
and Degou again, enabled the Owls to pull ahead 47-32 with 12:09
remaining.
The Panthers made several runs at the Owls. A pair of free
throws by freshman guard Lauren Sanchez (Seattle, Wa.) cut the lead
to six (61-55) with 1:04 remaining.
Sophomore forward Jen Cleaveland (Newington, Conn.) and
Simmler knocked down key free throws in the final minute for KSC,
which hit 16 of its 18 attempts from the line to hold on for the
victory.
Junior guard Ashley Barron (Brockton, Mass.) and sophomore
forward Kaitlyn Fallon (Swarthmore, Pa.) had 12 points each for the
Panthers (10-8). Senior forward Lani Young (Concord, N.H.)
also had nine points and a game high 12 rebounds for
Middlebury.
The Owls, who have won five of six meetings against
Middlebury, return to LEC play on Saturday when they travel down to
Rhode Island College.
"We have to match the intensity against Rhode Island,"
Simmler added. "These are games we have to win."
