KEENE, N.H. 1/3/09 - The Keene State women's basketball team captured its holiday tournament with a decisive 90-42 over Curry College in the championship game played at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.

It was a milestone win for the Owl, who defeated York (N.Y.) College 98-51, in the opening round and registered back-to-back 90 points or better victories for the first time in program history.

KSC won its holiday tournament for the second time.  They defeated Manhattanville College (81-45) in 2005 and lost in overtime to Maine Maritime (77-74) in 2006.

The Owls (8-2) had a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures.  Freshman guard Sarah Laudano (North Haven, Conn.) knocked down four three-pointers on the way to scoring a game and season high 16 points.  Junior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.), named the tournament MVP, and freshman forward Amanda Bacher (Concord, N.H.) had 12 points each. Forwards Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) and Meghan Farrell (Chester, Vt.) chipped in with 10 points.  Bacher and Farrell posted season highs while Simmler pulled down a game high eight rebounds.

The Owls scored the first 12 points of the game.  A lay-up byBacher off a nice pass from Degou put KSC up 12-0 just over six minutes into the game.

The Colonels were held scoreless until the 13:02 mark when senior forward Emma Dickson (North Yarmouth, Me.), selected to the All-Tournament team, hit a lay-up.

A jumper by Farrell put the Owls up 19-5 with 10:59 to go in the first half.  

KSC point guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) made the play of the game later in the half.  The only Owl player back on a 2-on-1 Curry break, the senior made one of her seven steals in the game, dribbled down court and fed Simmler for a jumper that gave Keene State a 29-13 lead with 2:53 to play.  "I was just trying to stop the ball and it ended up in my hands," Boudreau said.  "I thought we did a great job on defense in the second half."

The Owls, who took advantage of 19 Colonels turnovers, went to the locker room with a 35-24 lead.

"We just want to set the pace and tone of the game," said Farrell about the Owls' fast start.  "The starters have been able to do that the last two games."  

"We pressed pretty well and got off to a good start, but we didn't have the killer instinct to put them away," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher. "We came out in the second half with a sense of urgency and played much better."

The Owls pulled away from Curry early in the second half.  Degou made a conventional three-point play and then hit a lay-up after a steal by Boudreau to give KSC a 19 point (48-29).  Farrell knocked down a pair three-pointers and Boudreau hit a lay-up that capped a 16-0 Owl run that made it a 57-29 game at the 13:05 mark.

Sophomore forward Jennifer Olejnik (Salem, Mass.) had 10 points and senior forward Christina Sancinito (Wakefield, Mass.), an All-Tournament team member, finished with nine points and seven rebounds for Curry (2-8).

The next few games starting with Williams on Tuesday will be a barometer test for us," said Boucher.  "We have our work cut out for us."

In the consolation game, Mass College of Liberal Arts defeated York (N.Y.) College 68-58.  The Trailblazers (7-3) were led by freshman forward Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, N.Y.) with 20 points and 14 rebounds.  

The MCLA outscored York 14-5 over the final nine minutes of the first half to take a 36-18 lead at the break.  Junior guard Ali Leveille (Southampton, Mass., named to the All-Tournament team, drained four three-pointers and finished with 14 first half points.

Sophomore guard Elizabeth Padilla (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led a Cardinal comeback with 12 second half points.   Freshman center Justina Boatwright, who finished with 13 points for York, (Queens, N.Y.) and selected to the All-Tournament team, hit a lay-up to tie the game at 49-all with 8:05 to play. 

Wehner scored eight of MCLA's next 10 points, including a conventional three-point play after a steal to put the Trailblazers up 59-52 with 5:05 to play. She sealed the win for MCLA with lay-up that made it 64-58 with 52 seconds to play.

Sophomore guard Hilary Perks (Saugerties, N.Y.) had 10 points for MCLA.

Sophomore forward Niya Jarvis (Bronx, N.Y.) pulled down 11 rebounds for York (0-9).   

All-Tournament Team

Justina Boatwright   York

Ali Leveille               MCLA

Emma Dickson         Curry

Christina Sancinito   Curry

Michele Boudreau   Keene State

Meghan Farrell         Keene State

MVP - Kristin Degou          Keene State