WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Sophomore forward Tanisha Carter (East Hartford, Conn.) and senior guard Jessica Moriarty (East Haven, Conn.) each registered a double-double to help third-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University edge sixth-seeded Keene State College, 65-54, in overtime this evening in the first round of the 2011 Little East Women's Basketball Championship from the Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium. The Warriors connected on each of their two field goals and six free throws in the extra session to pull away from the upset-minded Owls.

Keene State (11-15) was led by the double-double effort of junior guard Meghan Farrell. The Chester, Vt. product recorded team-highs in points (14) and rebounds (10). Sara Laudano (North Haven, Conn.) was just a point off the pace, while Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.) rounded out the Owls contingent in double figures with 12.

Eastern Connecticut (19-7) will advance to the semifinal round of the 2011 Little East Women's Basketball Championship to face the No. 2 seed University of Southern Maine (16-9) at Western Connecticut State University at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25.

The Warriors used their front-court depth—accounting for 12 of their 16 points—in overtime to finally pull away from the visitors. Junior forward Piper Chapman (Portsmouth, R.I.) scored six of her 14 points in the extra session, while senior forward Amanda Pierlioni (Plainville, Conn.) and Carter added four and two markers, respectively.

After trading baskets for the opening 40 seconds of the extra frame, Pierlioni knocked down a running layup to give the hosts a lead (53-51) they wouldn't relinquish. Keene State was able to convert on the back-end of a pair of free throws to cut its deficit to one, but Carter and Chapman each connected on a jumper in the paint to give Eastern Connecticut a five-point advantage. The Owls sank a pair of attempts from the charity stripe, however the Warriors held Keene State scoreless over the final two minutes, 19 seconds of regulation and cashed in on six free throws to seal the tournament victory. 

In a closely-contest second stanza, neither team was able to build a lead greater than six points, while the advantage changed hands nine times. Eastern Connecticut tried to seize control of the contest with five unanswered points to start the half (28-22), but the Owls answered with a mini seven-point run. The two squads went back-and-forth for the remaining 16 minutes of regulation with neither team being able to extend its lead to more than one possession. 

Farrell's jumper with 1:41 remaining in regulation gave KSC a 47-45 lead. Eastern's Chapman evened the game on the next possession with a layup to make it 47-47.

After a Keene State timeout, Cirillo hit a jumper with 1:01 left to give KSC the 49-47 advantage. But the Warriors answered right back, as Amanda Pierlioni's (Plainville, Conn.) jumper with 29 seconds left forced the game into overtime.

After a defensive struggle over the opening seven minutes of action, Keene State raced out to its largest lead of the evening. Cirillo and sophomore guard Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) fueled the surge with nine-combined points, and junior guard Sara Laudano (North Haven, Conn.) capped the run with a 3-pointer to extend the Owls' lead to 20-11.

The Warriors responded with a 12-2 run of their own to close out the half. Chapman hit a mid-range jumper and Carter scored eight unanswered points to send Eastern Connecticut into the intermission with a one-point lead, 23-22.

The Warriors used a balanced scoring attack with three student-athletes reaching double figures. Carter paced the Eastern Connecticut attack with her fifth double-double of the campaign, scoring a game-high 17 points and pulling in 10 rebounds. Moriarty notched her third double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 14 boards. Chapman posted 14 points, while senior guard Brittany Whiteley (Windsor Locks, Conn.) handed out five helpers.

Eastern Connecticut held an advantage in nearly every statistical category. The Warriors shot 38.7 percent (24-for-62), while limiting Keene State to 33.3 percent (21-for-61). The hosts controlled the boards by a plus-12 margin (46-34), and dished out six additional assists (16-10).

(Courtesy Jack Holleran and the Little East Conference)