PHOENIX 12/29/09 - Happy to leave the cold, blustery weather of Keene for the mild, sunny 60 degree temperatures of Phoenix, the Keene State College women's basketball team showed its gratitude on the court, rolling to a 68-44 win over Goucher College of Towson, MD., in an opening-round game of the Grand Canyon Classic at Southwestern College on Tuesday afternoon.

            The Owls (6-2) advance to the tournament's championship game on Wednesday (3 p.m.) where they will face Wisconsin Oshkosh.  The Titans (4-7) defeated Baruch College 85-67 in the other first-round game. 

            Senior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) scored a game-high 20 points, including her 1,000-career point, to lead KSC to the win.

            Playing their first game in over two weeks, the Owls showed no ill effects from the extended lay-off, jumping out to a 41-20 halftime lead.

            "No one lost sight of our goal during the break," said Degou.  "Everyone worked hard and came back ready to play."

            Degou, who netted 12 of her 20 points in the first half, led the charge as KSC beat the Gophers down the floor and scored several transition baskets.  Leading 12-8, the Owls went on an 18-5 run, capped off by a Degou lay-up, putting KSC up 30-13 with 5:50 to play in the half.  Seeing her first action of the season following a foot injury, sophomore guard Meghan Farrell (Chester, Vt.) came off the bench to score 11 first half points.

            Pulling ahead 48-22, Keene State continued its dominance against Goucher in the second half.  With the outcome of the game settled, the only question was whether Degou would reach the coveted 1,000-point career milestone.  The senior guard answered that question at the 15:13 mark of the half, when she pulled up for a jumper at the foul line and scored to hit the coveted career mark.

            "I'm real happy about scoring my 1,000-point.  It's a great accomplishment," said Degou.  "I was very fortunate to not only start as a freshman, but play with so many great players over the years."

            Degou joins a select group of 15 women's basketball players at KSC who have reached the plateau.   She's the first 1,000-point scorer since the 2006-07 season when both Bri Barnes and Sarah Begnoche attained the honor.

            "No one works harder and sets a better example for her teammates than Kristin," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.  "She's a special player who not only scores, but does so many things on the floor that help us be successful."

            True to her coaches' words, Degou had a fine overall game for the Owls, contributing six rebounds, four assists and three steals in her 30 minutes on the court.  Joining Degou in double figures were senior Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) with 13 points and Farrell with 11 points.

            Senior Jen Cleaveland (Newington, Conn.) and sophomore Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.) pulled down nine and seven rebounds respectively to lead the Owls on the glass.

            Amber Smith and Elizabeth von Ende each finished with 13 points to lead Goucher (4-6).

            Keene State will have its hands full trying to wrestle the championship away from the Titans of Wisconsin Oshkosh, who won the NCAA Division III championship in 1996.  "They're a much better team.  We're going to have to get more scoring from our forwards," said Boucher.

            Not one to rest on her laurels, Degou feels the Owls are up for the challenge.  "We came out here to win two games and that's what we plan to do," she said.