NORTH DARTMOUTH, MASS.  – It was the Courtney Cirillo show at the Tripp Athletic Center in North Dartmouth, Mass. on Saturday.  The senior forward from Windsor Locks, Conn., scored a season high 29  points, set a school record by hitting all 17 of her shots from the line, and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to 77-65 Little East Conference win over UMass-Dartmouth. 

            Cirillo said her ability to drive got her to the line.  "When I saw openings, I just tried to take the ball to the basket," said Cirillo, who notched her seventh double-double of the season.  "I try to focus when I'm at the line.  My free throw shooting was off a few weeks ago, but I was on target today."

"Courtney put the team on her back," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.  "She was getting to the rim and causing a lot of problems.  Any time you shoot 17-for-17 it's pretty incredible." 

For the game, KSC shot a scorching 28-30 from the stripe (93%) also setting a record for free throws made and free throw percentage. 

            Keene State (10-5, 5-2 LEC), which has won 13 of its last 14 games against UMass-Dartmouth, remains in a tie for the second spot in the LEC standings, keeping pace with Southern Maine  and Western Conn., which also posted wins on Saturday.  UMass-Dartmouth drops to 9-7 (2-5 LEC.  KSC swept its two games against UMD this season, winning 71-62 earlier this season at Spaulding Gym.

            Unlike the weather, KSC was on fire from the field to start the game, opening up a 20-8 lead after senior Sara Laudano North Haven, Conn.), hit a three off the glass.

            UMD got back in the game behind sophomore Erika Bornemann (Canton, Mass.), who hit a put-back shot with 15 seconds to go to cut the Owls' lead to 36-35 at the half.

            Cirillo went to work in the second half, scoring five straight points to put KSC up 47-39 with 14:21 to play.  The Corsairs made things interesting down the stretch.  Junior Colleen Moriaty (Canton, Mass.) made a conventional three-point play to make it a 63-58 game with 4:17 to go.

            The Owls won the game at the line, hitting 14 of their 16 shots from the stripe in final four minutes of the game to post the victory.  Cirillo, who is six points shy of the 1,000-point career milestone, led the way, draining all six of her attempts.

            Seniors Meghan Farrell (Chester, Vt.) and Nike Cote (Ashford, Conn.), netted career highs with 19 and 13 points respectively.  Farrell, who also pulled down nine rebounds, was 7-10 from the field.

            Bornemann finished with 19 points and nine rebounds and Moriaty had 14 points for the Corsairs.  UMD was 12-20 at the line (60%). 

            Keene State travels to Eastern Conn. on Tuesday.