KEENE, N.H.  1/13/09 - The Western Connecticut women's basketball team extended its winning streak to 10 games and snapped Keene State's six game winning streak with a 55-51 Little East Conference victory over the Owls at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night.

Keene State drops to 11-3 (2-2 LEC) while Western Conn. improves to 11-2 (4-0 LEC) moving into first place in the conference with Southern Maine's 82-74 loss to R.I. College.

Keene State led by as many as nine points (21-12) following a lay-up by junior forward Jen Cleaveland (Newington, Conn.) at the 4:38 mark of the first half.  After missing several of their three-point opportunities (2-for-17 in the half), the Colonials started going inside and exerting themselves on the boards.  WCSU, who outscored the Owls 14-4 the rest of the half, took a 26-25 halftime lead after sophomore guard Karli Spera (Waterford, Conn.), who had 11 first half points, hit a lay-up and later connected on a free throw in the closing minute.

The game was decided in the final minutes of play.  Fouled attempting a three-pointer, senior guard Jennifer Kancler (Columbia, Conn.) hit two of three free throws to put WCSU up 49-47.

After a missed three-pointer by junior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.), Spera hit a three-pointer from the top of the circle to give the Colonials a 52-47 lead at the 1:42 mark.

A pair of free throws by senior forward Isabella Henry (Coram, N.Y.) gave Western Conn a 54-51 lead with 33 seconds to go.

Cleaveland was fouled going after an offensive rebound and hit one of two free throws to make it 54-51 with 17 seconds to play.  Junior forward Katie Moffo (Southington, Conn.)  had a chance to seal the win for WCSU, but missed both free throw attempts with 16 seconds to go, giving the Owls a chance to tie the game.

Simmler had a clear look at a three-point shot from the right side of the circle, but her shot hit off the side of the rim.

Fouled on the rebound, Spera hit one of two shots to give the Colonials the victory. 

Spera, who hit four three-pointers, finished with a game high 21 points.  Sophomore center Melissa Teel (Hamden, Conn.) chipped in with12 points, nine rebounds and six blocks.

The Owls had two players in double figures.  Senior guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) had 15 points to go with six rebounds and six steals.  junior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) added 12 points. Freshman forward Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.) pulled down a game high 10 rebounds.

Both teams play LEC games on Saturday.  Keene State is at UMass-Boston and Western Conn. returns home to take on Southern Maine.