KEENE, N.H.  1/27/09 - Senior guard Nicky Morey (Columbia, Conn.) hit a go-ahead basket with 37 second to play and sophomore guard Jessica Moriarty (East Haven, Conn.) hit a couple of clutch free throws in the closing seconds as the Eastern Conn. State University women's basketball team held on for a 64-61 Little East Conference victory over Keene State at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night.

Keene State (14-4, 5-3 LEC) saw its three game win streak come to an end. Ranked #25 in this week's D3hoops poll, Eastern Conn. (15-2, 7-1 LEC) remained tied for the top spot in the LEC with its sixth straight victory.

Following a highly-contested first half, Eastern Conn. went to the locker room with a slim 32-31 lead.

Each team traded runs.  The Owls scored eight straight point to go up by seven (24-17) on a turnaround basket in the lane by junior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) at the 6:11 mark.

The Warriors responded with a 10-2 run to go ahead by one 27-26 on a lay-up by senior forward Kate Brunet (Bristol, Conn.) with 3:10 to play.

In the closing seconds of the half, junior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) scored off an inbounds pass to put KSC up 31-30.

Morey hit a pair of free throws to account for the Warrior lead at the break. 

The Owls didn't go to the line in the first half.

Keene State went on an 8-0 run out of the break, going up 39-32 on a basket by Simmler off a steal.   A drive by senior forward Jenn Kinney (Salem, N.H.) put the Owls up by 10 (48-38) at the 9:58 mark.

Off a third offensive rebound, Brunet hit a lay-up and the subsequent free throw to make it a 50-47 game with 7:36 to go.

A pair of nice entry passes by Degou and Simmler resulted in consecutive lay-ups by junior forward Jen Cleaveland (Newington, Conn.) to give KSC a 59-50 lead with 5:38 to play.

At one point of the half, the Warriors pulled down five straight offensive rebounds.  Later, a turnaround jumper by senior center Ashley McFetridge (Canton, Conn.) cut the Owls' lead to 59-57 with 2:48 to go. Amanda Pierlioni gave ECSU its first lead of the half (60-59) at the 2:27 mark on a top of the key three-pointer.

Fouled going after a rebound, Cleaveland hit two free throws to put KSC up 61-60 with 1:46 to play.

Following a time-out, the Warriors turned the ball over. After senior guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) had her shot blocked, Morey hit a top of the key jumper to give the Warriors a 62-61 lead with 37 second to play.

Boudreau missed a lay-up; Moriarty hit two key free throws to put ECSU up 64-61 with 14.9 seconds left on the clock.

 Degou missed a desperation three-pointer in the closing seconds as the Warriors held on to post the win.  

 Simmler and Degou finished with 15 points each for the Owls.  Kinney added a season high 10 points.  Cleaveland had a team high nine rebounds.

The Warriors had four players finish in double figures.  McFetridge led the way with 16 points.  Brunet and Moriarty had 13 points each, and Morey added 12 points.  McFetridge and Moriarty each pulled down 12 rebounds.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, Keene State travels to Middlebury College and Eastern is home against Coast Guard.