WHITTIER, CA. 1/4/08  - Sophomore forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) scored 15 points and senior guard Emily Flewelling (Pittsford, Vt.) finished with a career high 13 points and nine rebounds to lead the Keene State women's basketball team to a 65-61 victory over Bethany Lutheran (Min.) College in a first-round game of the Purple and Gold Classic at Whittier (Ca.) College on Friday night.
   

Winners of four straight, Keene State (6-4) will face Goucher College in Saturday's championship game.  Goucher edged host Whittier 58-56 in the other first -round game.
   

The Owls got a major lift form its bench after three players, including starters Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) and Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) were unable to play due to a stomach virus. 
   

"Our bench players really stepped it up and enabled us to win the game," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.
   

The Owls held a 37-29 haltime lead and had to withstand a late charge by the Vikings to secure the win. Senior guard Daniel Gravely (Schenectady, N.Y.), who finished with 13 points, hit a  pair of key free throws with 21 seconds to play to give KSC the wining margin.
   

Keene State also got a strong performance from junior forward Jenn Kinney (Salem, N.H.) who had seven points and a team high 10 rebounds.