Keene, N.H. 11/16/12 – The Keene State College women's basketball team opened its season by trouncing York (N.Y.) College 96-36 in an opening-round game of the KSC Tip-Off tournament at Spaulding Gym on Friday afternoon. It's the most point the Owls have scored in their tournament since defeating Lasell College 101-46 in a first-round game in 2004.

            The Owls (1-0), who have won their tournament 15 out of the past 16 years, will play Mount Holyoke in Saturday's championship game at 3 p.m.  Mount Holyoke (1-0) defeated Mount Ida College 70-44 in the other opening-round game.

            Keene State had a balanced offensive attack, placing five players in double figures. Junior Carly Kiernan (Topsfield, Mass.) led all scorers with 16 points.  She was followed by freshman Laurie Allen (Medford, Mass.) with 13 points.  Senior Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) and sophomore Christan Wojtas (Amherst, N.H.) each had 11 points and freshman Ryanne Williams (Norwell, Mass.) finished with 10 points. Carnell had a team best seven rebounds and Allen filled up the score sheet with eight assists, and tied a school record with nine steals.  

            The Owls took all the suspense out of the game by racing out to a big lead and never looking back. 

            One of three newcomers in Keene State's starting line-up; Wojtas began the barrage by knocking down a three-pointer from the right corner and scoring KSC's first five points.  "It was unbelievable," said Wojtas, who returned to the court this season after taking last year off to concentrate on her academics.  "I was just trying to look at the open floor, relax and take my shot.  It's nice to be back on the court."

            Taking over at the point for KSC, sophomore Rachael Brucks (Suwanee, Geo.) knocked down a three-ball from the top of the circle and then found Kiernan for a lay-up to give Keene State a 19-2 lead.

            The Cardinals, who were hampered getting ready for their season because their facility near Queens was used as an evacuation shelter in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, showed their rust, committing 26 first half turnovers.  Allen had five steals that led to uncontested lay-ups.     

            The prettiest basket of the half was a well-executed three-pass, down-court play that went from Allen to Williams, who hit junior Brianna McCain (Hampton, N.H.) for an easy lay-up.  KSC shot a scorching 57% (25-44) from the field on the way to building up a commanding 54-10 halftime lead.  

            Keene State players had mix reactions to their one-sided win.  "I think it was good we had a game like this because everyone got to play," said Wojtas.  "We were able to work on plays and learn to play together."

            "I think it's good and bad,' said Kiernan, who connected on seven of her 11 shots from the field.  "We got some points, but at the same time we were not really challenged too much.  We need to come out strong tomorrow and expect a closer game."

For the game, KSC shot 53% from the field (41-77), hit five of 14 three-pointers (36%) and hit nine of 15 attempts (60%) from the line. The Owls won the battle on the boards 47-36 with every Owl player getting at least one rebound.

            Sophomore Shadaeya Greene (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 10 points and sophomore Stayce Kay Muirhead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) pulled down a game high 14 rebounds to lead York. 

            Mount Holyoke College led from start to finish in its 71-44 victory over Mount Ida College in the second game of the night.

            Mount Holyoke jumped out to a 16-4 lead on a lay-up by sophomore Amber Legare (Chicopee, Mass.) and took its biggest lead of the half (38-18) on a baseline three-pointer by senior Angelica Pascual (Lawrence, Mass.). The Lyons led 39-22 at halftime.

            The Mustangs attempted to get back in the game.  Sophomore Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, Mass.) found junior Leslie Campbell (Quincy, Mass.) all alone for a lay-up to make it 57-42 with 6:30 to play.  But Pascual knocked down a three-pointer in the Lyons' next possession to push the lead back up to 60-42 lead with 5:48 to go.

            Legare and Pascual each finished with 21 points to lead the Lyons (1-0).  Sophomore Kate Karraker (Morgantown, W.V.) chipped in with 12 points.  Legare and Pascual had 10 and nine rebounds respectively for MHC, who had a wide 52-36 advantage on the boards.

            Senior Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, Conn.) had 18 points and Refuse pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Mustangs (0-1), who are making their third appearance in the KSC tournament.

            Mount Ida will take on York College in Saturday's consolation game at 1 p.m.