PROVIDENCE, R.I.  2/6/10 - The Keene State women's basketball continued to struggle in road conference games, falling to R.I. College 59-56 in Providence on Saturday.  The Owls have dropped their last three LEC games away from Spaulding Gym.

Keene State (13-7, 5-5 LEC) and Rhode Island College (14-7, 5-5 LEC), who stretched its wining streak to five games, are tied for fourth place in the conference standings.

Down 33-29 at halftime, the Owls took their only lead of the second half (52-51) on a free throw by senior guard Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) at the 4:51 mark.

Rachel Riley snared an offensive rebound and hit a basket and Denise Scott followed with a jumper to give the Anchorwomen a 55-52 lead with 3:57 to play. 

The Owls would get within one point a couple of times down the stretch.  A jumper by senior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) cut the lead to 57-56 with 2:36 to play.

Stephanie Coro hit a pair from the line to put RIC up 59-56 with 2:21 to go. 

KSC had several chances to tie the game in the final minute of play, but Simmler, Sapp and sophomore forward Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Lock, Conn.) couldn't get their three-point shots to fall. Cirillo's attempt came with five seconds to play.

Simmler scored 13 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Owls, who were just six for 22 from behind the arc.  Sapp finished with 12 points.

Coro had a game high 16 points; Courtney Burns added 13 points and Riley finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Anchorwomen, who also had a difficult time connecting on their three-point shots (4-17). 

RIC controlled the glass (42-30), including 17 offensive rebounds.  

The two teams combined for 42 turnovers.

Keene State hosts Eastern Conn. on Tuesday.