KEENE, N.H.  11/21/08 - The host Owls and the University of New England posted first-round wins in the 13th Annual KSC Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night at Spaulding Gym. KSC will face UNE in Saturday's championship game at 3 p.m.   The Owls are looking for their 11th straight tip-off title.

Freshman guard Sarah Laudano (North Haven, Conn.) scored a season high 16 points, including four three-pointers, and junior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead Keene State to a 80-49 victory over Johnson and Wales University in the early first-round game.

The Owls, playing their first home game of the season, remain undefeated (4-0). Johnson and Wales (2-1) suffered its first loss of the season.

Despite the score, KSC Coach was not happy with his teams' defense. "We made too many careless fouls in the first half and had them parading to the line," he said.  "In the second half, we shot better, created some turnovers, and did a better job hitting the glass."   

The first half featured extended runs by both teams.  After a three-pointer by senior guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) put KSC up 13-3, JWU went on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 15-13 on a lay-up by senior guard Johanna Santosuosso (Salem, N.H.) at the 10:44 mark. With their starters back on the floor, the Owls put together a   13-0 run on the way to building a 34-21 halftime lead.  KSC had 15 offensive rebounds in the first half.

KSC outscored the Wildcats 7-2 coming out of the break to go up by 18 points  (41-23) on conventional three-point by  Simmler early in the second half. Later in the half, Laudano hit a baseline three-pointer to extend the Owls lead to 25 points (55-30) with 12:20 to play.

Junior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) added nine points and a game high eight rebounds and junior forward Jenn Cleaveland (Newington, Conn.) finished with eight points and seven rebounds. Jen Cleaveland The Owls had a wide 68-34 rebound advantage, including 30 second chance offensive rebounds. KSC, which held the Wildcats to a 21% shooting pct. from the field,  has kept all four of its opponents this season under 50 points.

  Senior guard Alyse Ragaglia (West Newbury, Mass.) scored 13 points and Santaosuosso finished with 12 points to lead JWU.

Freshman forward Margo Russell (Madison, Me.) and sophomore guard Lyndie Libby (Buxton, Me.) had 13 points each to lead the University of New England to a 65-59 victory over SUNY-Potsdam in Friday's second first-round game.

UNE, coached by former Owl assistant Anthony Ewing improves to 2-1. It was the first game of the season for Potsdam (0-1).  

After trailing most of the first half, UNE went to the locker room with a slim 33-31 lead.  

The Nor'easters fell behind in the second half, before taking over with just under five minutes to play.  After hitting a three-pointer, sophomore guard Lyndie Libby (Buxton, Me.) stole the ball and was fouled.  She hit one free throw to put UNE up 56-53 with 4:21 to play.

Potsdam's senior guard Maureen Curley (Madrid, N.Y.) hit a free throw to make it a 60-57 game with 57 to go.  Freshman guard Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Me.) hit a key baseline jumper with 30 seconds on the clock to make it 62-57 and seal the win for the Nor'easters.   

Pelletier had 11 points and senior forward Sara Pelkey (Barre, Vt.) round out the double-figure scorers for UNE with 10 points. Freshman guard Kelley Paradis (Newport, Me.) led the Nor'easters with eight rebounds.

Junior guard Cortney Poirier (Moira, N.Y.) and Curley led Potsdam with 13 points each. Curley and senior forward Kelsey Shoen ( Waddington, N.Y.)  pulled down a game high 10 rebounds.

Johnson and Wales will face Potsdam in Saturday's consolation game at 1 p.m.