KEENE, N.H. 1/2/09  - The Keene State women's basketball team tipped off the New Year with a 98-51 romp over York College of Jamaica, N.Y. in an opening-round game of its holiday tournament at Spaulding Gym on Friday.  The Owls (7-2) will face Curry College of Milton, Mass in Saturday's championship game (3 p.m.). The Colonels defeated Mass College of Liberal Arts 54-51 in Friday's second first-round game. MCLA will take on York in the consolation game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Returning to the court after an extended holiday break, the Owls scored the first 12 points of the game against the Cardinals.  They went up 18-3 on a baseline three-pointer b y junior guard Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) on the way to opening up a 57-24 halftime lead.

Junior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.), who hit five of six shots from the field and all three of her three-point attempts had 13 first half points for the Owls.  KSC shot a scorching 68% from the field (21-for-31) and 62% (8-for-13) from behind the arc in the first half.

The Owls opened the second half with an 11-2 run, going up 68-26 on a steal and lay-up by senior point guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.).      

"I tried not to think about my shot and just let it go," said Degou, who finished with 15 points. "We had a good week of practice and were ready to play."

"We had a couple of good practices and that carried over to the game," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher, who told his team "that the road is going to get a lot tougher and they have to play a little better every game."

All 14 Owl players scored at least one point in the one-sided game.  Freshman forward Amanda Bacher (Concord, N.H.) and sophomore forward Melissa Small (Saco, Me.) had 12 points each while Sapp finished with 10 points.   Small was very economical, scoring her 12 points in just nine minutes of action.

Junior forward Jen Cleaveland (Newington, Conn.) had a game high six rebounds to go with eight points.

Keene State was on target all game, shooting 62% (37-for-60) from the field, 42% (8-for-19) from behind the arc, and knocked down 16 of 18 free throw attempts.

Freshman guard Justina Boatwright (Queens, N.Y.) had a game high 16 points for York College (0-8).

It was the highest point total for KSC since a 99-68 win over UMass-Boston back on Jan. 7, 2006 and the largest margin of victory since defeating Mt. Ida College by 49 points (94-45) last season.

Keene State will be making its third appearance in the holiday tournament championship game.  The Owls defeated Manhattanville College (81-45) in 2005 and lost in overtime to Maine Maritime (77-74) in 2006.

In the second game, Curry went up 20-11 on a lay-up by senior guard Sarah Walker (Colchester, Vt.) at the 6:59 mark of the first half.  MCLA outscored the Colonels 11-4 the rest of the way to cut Curry's lead to 24-22 at the half.  Junior guard Liz Forte (Rutland, Vt.), who had 11 first half points, hit a lay-up with 38 seconds to go to give Curry the lead.

Curry took an eight point lead (44-36) on a pair of free throws by senior forward Emma Dickson (North Yarmouth, Me.) with 8:36 to play.

 The game was decided in the final minute of play. MCLA junior guard Ali Leveille (Southampton, Mass.) tied the game at 50-all with a three-pointer from the right of the circle with 36 to go.

A 10-foot base line jumper by senior guard Heather King (West Newbury, Mass.) put the Colonels back up 52-50 with 31 seconds on the clock.  Curry got the ball back and Forte hit one foul shot to make it 53-50.

MCLA freshman forward Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, N.Y.) missed a couple of free throws to keep the deficit at three points.  She later hit one of two from the line to make it 53-51.  Curry senior forward Christina Sancinito (Wakefield, Mass.) was fouled after making the rebound and hit a free throw to make it 54-51 with 10 seconds to go.

Leveille had a chance to send the game into overtime but her three-point attempt hit off the rim sending Curry into the championship game.

Dickson finished with a double-double, a game high 17 points to go with 10 rebounds to lead the Colonels (2-7).  Forte, who hit 10 of 14 free throws, finished with 15 points.

Leveille led MCLA (6-3) with 12 points. Silverman and Wehner pulled down 13 rebounds each.