WESTFIELD, MASS. 1/7/10 - The Keene State College women's basketball team wrapped up its extended seven game semester break road trip with a dominating 71-33 victory over Westfield State College on Thursday night.

            The win improves Keene State's record to 7-3.  Westfield State falls to 6-5.

            Senior Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) hit a jumper at the buzzer to send the KSC Owls to the locker room with a 36-24 halftime lead.

            Keene State began the second half with a 12-2 run, going up 48-26 on a three-pointer from the corner by senior Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) that bounced in the air and went through the net.

            Keene State put the clamps down defensively in the second half, allowing just nine points by Westfield State. WSC hit just two of its 27 shots (7.4 %) from the field in the half. "You're not going to see that happen too often," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher. 

            Degou, who was 7-11 from the field, 4-6 from behind the arc, and 3-3 at the line led the Owls with 21 points.  Simmler, 6-8 from the field, finished with 13 points.

            Senior Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) topped the team with seven rebounds.  KSC had a wide 47-22 advantage on the boards.

            Angela Paterson scored 11 points and Ashley Finnegan had 10 points for Westfield.

            Keene State returns home to face Rhode Island College in a Little East game on Saturday.  "It will be nice to go to our home locker room instead of getting on a bus," said Boucher.