KEENE, N.H.  1/24/09 - The Keene State women's basketball moved into sole possession of third place in the Little East Conference with a 64-51 victory over the University of Southern Maine at Spaulding Gym on Saturday. Both teams came into the game tied for the third spot in the LEC standings.

Winners of three straight, Keene State 14-3 (5-2 LEC) won against USM for just the second time in 27 games in conference play.  Southern Maine (13-4, 4-3 LEC) lost for the third time in its last four games.

"We knew this was going to be a huge game, said junior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.), who led the Owls with a game high 14 points.  "You need to win your home conference games."

The Owls used the three-ball to build up a 36-18 first half lead. Back-to-back three-pointers by senior guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) and Degou gave KSC a 21-10 lead at the 8:42 mark.  Junior guard Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) drained KSC's sixth three of the half in the closing seconds to stake the Owls to an 18 point lead at the break. Degou scored 13 of her 14 points in the half.

KSC shot 60% (6-10) from behind the arc and out-rebounded the Huskies 21-9 in the first half.   

Sophomore guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Me.) had 11 first half point for USM, which struggled from the field hitting 5 of 17 attempts.

Keene State began the second half with an 11-5 run to pull ahead by 24 points (47-23) on a drive by Sapp at the 14:51 mark.

The Owls had a five minute shooting drought midway in the half.  A pair of free throws by USM freshman guard Renee Nicholas cut KSC's lead to 14 points (49-35) with 8:33 to play.  KSC regained its scoring touch later in the half, a baseline three-pointer by freshman guard Nicole Cullinane (Rindge, N.H.) put the Owls back up by 18 (56-38) with 5:53 to play.

The Owls finished the game with a 41-24 advantage off the boards.

In addition to Degou, three other Owls scored in double figures.  Junior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) had 12 points, and Sapp and Boudreau finished with 10 points each.  Simmler pulled down a game high 11 rebounds.

The Huskies had three players finished in double figures. Junior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Me.) topped USM with 12 points, DeMillo finished with 11 points, and freshman guard Nicole Garland (Portland, Me.) added 10 points.  Sophomore forward Kristi Violette (Readfield, Me.) had a team high eight rebounds.

Both teams' hosts LEC games on Tuesday, the Owls face Eastern Conn on and the Huskies entertain Plymouth State.  

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