KEENE, N.H. 1/17/12 – Senior Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.) scored 17 points and tied her career high with 17 rebounds to lead the Keene State women's basketball team to a 70-42 Little East Conference victory over rival Plymouth State University at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night.  

Held to just two points in Keene State's last game against Rhode Island College on Saturday, the Owls' top scorer said she didn't do anything different on Tuesday. "I come out and play the same way every game.  It's just a matter of whether my shots are going in," said Cirillo, who registered her sixth double-double of the season.  "I thought we got the ball inside a little more instead of settling for outside shots.  Hopefully, we can build on this win."

Junior Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) also had a strong overall game, finishing with16 points and seven rebounds while freshman Sarah Phelan (Northbridge, Mass.) grabbed a season high 13 rebounds.

The Owls, who snap a two game losing streak, improve to 9-5 (4-2 LEC) and are locked in a tie for second place in the LEC standings with Western Conn. and Southern Maine.  Plymouth State (2-12, 0-5 LEC) has dropped six straight and are still looking for its first conference win of the season.

Seeing expanding playing time, freshman Nikki Stacy (Uxbridge, Mass.) helped the Owls pull away from the Panthers in the first half. She found sophomore Carly Kiernan (Topsfield, Mass.) down low for a lay-up and then knocked a down a three-pointer from the right side the next time down the floor to put KSC up 20-7 with 7:27 to play.

Cleaning the glass with 11 first-half rebounds, Cirillo hit a baseline jumper to make it 28-13. In the closing seconds of the half, she came off a screen to hit a jumper staking the Owls to a 30-15 lead at the break.

The Panthers struggled from the field in the first half, connecting on just four of their 33 shots from the field (12%).

The Owls picked up where they left off in the first half. After grabbing a rebound, Cirillo went coast-to-coast, hitting a lay-up that put KSC up 42-19.

KSC Coach Keith Boucher, who used all 15 players on his roster, said his team came out with a little bit more desire.  "I thought we had a pulse in this game.  The last two or three games we didn't play with enough passion and emotion," he said.  "Hopefully this is a sign that we're headed in the right direction."

Sophomore Krystin Corliss (Barnstead, N.H.) was the only PSU player in double figures, scoring 10 points. Juniors Katie Seraikas (Concord, N.H.) and Sam Monohon (Auburn, N.H.)  each had five rebounds.

Keene State controlled the boards, finishing with a 60-38 advantage.

The Owls have won 17 of their last 18 games again the Panthers. 

Both teams hit the road for LEC games on Saturday.  The Owls travel to UMass-Dartmouth and the Panthers visit conference leader R.I. College.