NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA 2/7/09 -The Keene State women's basketball team opened up a early lead and never looked boack on the way to posting a 71-45 Little East Conference victory over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at the Tripp Athletic Center Saturday afternoon.

Keene State opened the game on a 15-4 run over the game's first 7:11, and took a 33-18 lead to the locker room at halftime.  The Corsairs could come no closer in the second half.

Keene's 71 points were tallied by a combination of twelve different players. The Owls thrived on their outside shooting, going 10 of 19 from three point range.  KSC out rebounded the Corsairs, 48-22, taking advantage of 18 offensive rebounds to create extra opportunities.

Junior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) led Keene State with 15 points, while freshman guard Sarah Laudano (North Haven, Conn.) added 11. Senior forward Jenn Kinney (Salem, N.H.) tied her season  high pulling  down 10 rebounds for the Owls.

Junior forward Kaylin Nelson (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford HS/Salve Regina) led the way for UMass Dartmouth with 23 points.   

Winners of three straight, Keene State (17-4, 7-3 LEC) moves into sole posssesion of third place in the conferecne, moving ahead of Southern Maine which lost to Eastern Conn. 68-65. UMass Dartmouth fell to 3-17 and 0-9 in the Little East Conference.

The Owls host rival Plymouth State on Tuesday. .