WILLIMANTIC, CONN. 2/17/09 - Eastern Conn. used a strong second half to post a 69-45 Little East victory over Keene State on Tuesday night.

The Warriors shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half to pull away from the Owls, (18-6, 8-5 little east), who have lost its last two after a four-game winning streak.

The win assures Eastern (22-2, 12-1 little east) of the top seed in the upcoming Little East Conference tournament.  A winner of 13 straight (two shy of the season record), Eastern ties the program record for regular-season wins in completing the season sweep of Keene State .

Keene's loss, coupled with the University of Southern Maine's 74-66 win at Plymouth State University, drops the Owls into fourth place. Keene is assured of finishing no lower than fourth, however, and will host a first-round LEC tournament game Tuesday.

Junior Kristin Degou (Newburyport, MA) of Keene led all players with 16 points. Degou was 4-of-6 from three-point range for the Owls, the LEC leaderin three-point field goal percentage and second-rated team in total three-point field goals.

Seniors Kate Brunet (Bristol), Ashley McFetridge (Canton) and Nicky Morey (Columbia) combined for 43 points for Eastern, which shot 51.1 percent from the floor and canned  20 of 24 fhree throws. Brunet had a team-high 15 points, McFetridge and Morey 13 each. Senior Christina Amato (Marlboro, MA) had had game-highs of six rebounds and five assists.

Keene State wraps up its regular season on Saturday hosting UMass-Boston. Eastern closes out the regular season Saturday at Rhode Island College at 1 p.m.