WILLIMANTIC, Conn. 01/24/12 - The last time a member of the Keene State College women's basketball team netted their 1,000th point, senior forward Courtney Cirillo was just a sophomore cheering on her teammate Nicole Simmler's achievement. On Tuesday night in KSC's 58-38 victory against Little East Conference rival Eastern Conn. State, the Windsor Locks, Conn. native became the 19th member of the exclusive 1,000-point club.

"There is so many people I have to thank," said Cirillo. "Everyone who graduated before this year and the seniors on the team now have pushed me and helped me grow into the player that I am today."

"It is such a phenomenal achievement for Courtney (Cirillo)," said KSC head coach Keith Boucher. "I have said it a million times but she is the straw that stirs the drink, and every team we play knows that. So for her to score as many points as she had with two or more defenders breathing down her neck all game is something special."

Cirillo's layup off a pass from classmate Meghan Farrell (Chester, VT) with 10:25 remaining in the first-half gave her 1,001 points for her career. "I wasn't sure if she was going to shoot it or pass it," said Cirillo. "She got me the ball and I just put it in. What makes this accomplishment exciting to me is that we won the game because that's what I really cared about."

As for scoring her milestone basket on the road, Cirillo was closer to home than you think with her hometown of Windsor Locks only being about 35 minutes from Eastern Conn.'s gym. "A bunch of my family and friends came to the game," said Cirillo. "My mom even brought me flowers. I'm not really into flowers but I guess I'll take them."

KSC, who had a total record of 2-14 at Geissler Gymnasium going into tonight's contest, have won each of their last three contests improve to 11-5 and 6-2 in conference play, while the Warriors drop to 6-12 overall and 2-6 in league action. "Anytime you win on the road it feels good," said Cirillo. "Hopefully that is the last time we have to play in that gym."

At the beginning of the contest, the Warriors held tough, taking a two point lead with 4:39 to play on a bucket from freshman guard Taylor McBride (Willimantic, Conn.) for the 25-23 lead.

But it was Cirillo's night, as the Connecticut native brought the ball right down the court and split the defense for another layup to start a 10-0 for the Owls to close the half. Cirillo's jumper in the paint with six seconds left in the half sent KSC into the locker-room with a 33-25 advantage.

Keene State opened up a 16 point lead in the second half on a jumper from junior forward Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) to make it 43-27 with 14:16 left.

Freshman Kristina Forsman (Newington, Conn.) cut into the KSC lead with back-to-back three-balls to make it only 43-33.

After that it was all Owls. Freshman forward Jamie Boyatsis' (Dover, N.H.) layup with 1:35 left in the game, gave KSC the 20 point lead and the 58-38 win.

Cirillo finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds for her 8th double-double on the season, and third in a row. Carnell was the only other KSC player in double figures, scoring ten points and pulling down five rebounds.

Forsman led the way for the Warriors, scoring 16 points in the losing effort. Freshman forward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield, Conn.) scored 11 points for ECSU, while senior Jaymie Sommers (Voluntown, Conn.) pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds.

KSC outrebounded the Warriors 48-38 and shot better from the floor at 37% (25-of-68) to ECSU's 23% (14-of-59).

Looking ahead, the Owls will face-off against NESCAC foe Middlebury on Thursday night at Spaulding Gymnasium at 6 p.m.