KEENE, N.H.  2/10/09 - Junior guard Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) scored 19 point to lead the Keene State women's basketball team to a 76-54 Little East Conference victory over rival Plymouth State at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night. 

Sapp,  who hit eight of her nine shots from the field, said the team's defense sparked the offense.

"I kept shooting and they were going in," said Sapp.   "Our energy was up with more fans in the stands and we played very well."

Winners of four straight, Keene State improves to 18-4 (8-3 LEC).  Plymouth State falls to 14-8 (4-7 LEC).  KSC, who defeated PSU 72-50 earlier this season in Plymouth, swept the season series between the two reams.

Keene State's offense was running on all cylinders as they raced out to a 46-25 first half lead.  Trailing 7-4, the Owls went on a 16-0 run to go up 20-7 on a basket by junior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) at the 12:30 mark.  Later in the half, back-to-back lay-ups by Sapp and senior guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) pushed the Owls lead to 17 points (34-17). 

The half featured an NBA three-pointer by Boudreau that beat the 30-second clock and a pair of well-executed backdoor lay-ups by Sapp and Degou. Junior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) and Sapp had 11 first half points for the Owls, who shot 52% (17-33) from the field.

The Owls continued their strong play in the second half.  After a steal, Simmler knocked down a three-point shot and Sapp followed with a lay-up to give KSC a 57-29 lead at the 16:30 mark of the half.

Simmler scored 17 points and Boudreau finished with 11 points to join Sapp in double-figures.

Sophomore Amanda Kania (Manchester, N.H.) had a game high 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Plymouth State.

Both teams have LEC road games on Saturday, the Owls travel to Western Conn. and the Panthers go to UMass-Boston.