WHITTIER, CA. 1/5/08 - Tournament MVP Danielle Graveley (Schenectady, N.Y.) scored a career high 18 points and pulled down five rebounds to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a 55-49 victory over Goucher (Md.) College in the championship game of the Purple and Gold Classic at Whittier (Ca.) College on Saturday.
   

Graveley said that Goucher concentrated on yesterday's top scorer Emily Flewelling giving her open looks. "I knocked down my first two shots and got in a zone," she said.  "We worked so hard for this win."
   

The Owls (7-4), who extended their wining streak to five games, also got a strong performance from junior Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) who was named to the All-Tournament team.
   

The Owls sealed the victory in the final minutes of play.  With 1:20 to play, junior forward Jenn Kinney (Salem, N.H.) went to the line for a 1-and 1.  Kinney made the first shot and missed the second, but a lane violation was called. She made her second try to put KSC up 53-49.  Following a missed shot by Goucher, Boudreau hit a pair of free throws to account for the final score.
   

Sophomore forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. After missing the first-round game with a stomach virus, sophomore guard Alyssa Sapp returned to the line-up  and had 10 points. Sophomore guard Kristen Degou missed her second straight game.
   

I"m very pleased with the way we played," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher, whose tewam played four games in seven days including a cross-country trip.  "We faced some adversity and baned together to pull out the win."
   

Senior Shadae Swan scored 26 of Goucher's 49 points.
   

Boucher said the Owls played a storng defensive game against the athletic Gophers (5-6). KSC also had a good shooting night hitting 12 of 14 from the line and seven of 19 from behind the arc.
  

"Several of the players were saying we should just play in tournaments," Boucher said.  In addtion to winning the opening season  KSC Tip-off tournament, the Owls have also captured the last weekend's WPI Holiday Tournament in additon to the Whittier Classic.
   

The Owls fly home on Sunday and play at Westfield State next Thursday.