KEENE, N.H. 2/16/10 - Senior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) tied her career high with 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a key 66-48 Little East Conference victory over rival Plymouth State University at Spaulding on Tuesday night

Keene State improves to 15-8 (7-6 LEC) while Plymouth State falls to 15-9 (5-8 LEC).  Keene State's win coupled with R.I. College's 60-57 loss to UMass-Dartmouth moves the Owls into fourth place in the LEC standings.  A win on Saturday against UMD will give KSC a home game in the opening-round of the LEC tournament. 

Plymouth State, who wraps up its season at RIC on Saturday, falls into a tie for sixth place. 

The Owls used the three-ball to take a 25-23 halftime lead. KSC knocked down seven of its 19 three-point attempts, scoring 21 of its 25 points from behind the arc. Senior guard Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) had four of them - all from the left of the key - while Simmler had the other three-point baskets.

Going  more inside for offense at the start of the second half,  KSC went on a 9-2 run out of the break to take a 34-25 lead on a lay-up by Simmler at the 15:40 mark.  The Owls opened a 14 point lead (52-38) on a lucky-bounce three-pointer by Simmler with 5:10 to play.

Sapp finished with 14 points.  Despite hitting one field goal, senior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) had 11 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

"In the second half Kristin Degou got us going offensively and defensively, Nicole Simmler had another strong game and Alyssa Sapp continues to be our point guard by committee," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher. 

"We went outside and inside tonight," said Simmler.  In the first half our three-pointers were dropping and in the second half, we were able to get inside and make the higher percentage shots and that gave us a boost," 

Sophomore forward Alicia Doucet (Manchester, N.H.) scored 15 points and had seven rebounds and junior forward Amanda Kania (Manchester, N.H.) added 11 points and nine rebounds to lead Plymouth State.  Senior forward Laura Kent (Bellingham, Mass.) chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds.

PSU shot 15-62 from the field (24%) and 2-20 from behind the arc (10%) in the game.

KSC was 11-30 from three-point land (37%) and hit 19 of its 20 free throws (95%).

Accepting donations for White-Out t-shirts, Keene State raised just under $300 for the Kay Yow Breast Cancer Foundation at the game.