DANBURY, CONN. 2/11/12 – The Keene State College women's basketball team saw its seven game winning streak come to an end with a tough 55-53 overtime loss to Western Conn. State University at the Feldman Arena on Saturday.

            Keene State's loss, coupled with Southern Maine's 72-68 upset win over LEC front-runner Rhode Island College, moves the Owls (15-6, 9-3 LEC) back into a tie with USM for second place in the conference standings.  Looking to secure one of the six spots in the tournament, Western Conn. improves to 15-8 (7-5 LEC). 

            Senior Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.) was the Owls' offense, scoring 28 of KSC's 53 points.  Cirillo, who scored 15 of her points while having four fouls, was nine of 18 from the field and hit 10 of her 12 attempts from the line.  She also had a team high nine rebounds. 

            Cirillo hit consecutive lay-ups to give the Owls a 46-43 lead with 55 seconds to play in regulation.  Senior Stephanie Slonski (Griswold, Conn.) connected on a three-pointer to tie the game at 46-all with 46 seconds to go.

            Cirillo had a chance to put the Owls ahead, bur her shot was blocked by freshman Caroline Brasa (East Hartford, Conn.).  Slonski drove the length of the floor and hit a basket, but the officials ruled time had expired, sending the game into overtime.

            In the overtime, sophomore Sciarra Brandt (Thomaston, Conn.) hit a key baseline jumper to put the Colonials up 52-49.  Slonski was fouled in WCSU's next possession and hit one free throw to make it 53-49.

            Cirillo cut the lead to 53-51 with a jumper. Both Brasa and freshman Amber Litwinko (Kensington, Conn.) missed chances to put the game away for WCSU with missed foul shots.  However, in the rebound action following Litwinko's shot a jumped ball was called and the Colonials were awarded the ball due to the possession arrow.

            Junior Nicole Eanniello (Danbury, Conn.) was fouled in the inbounds play and hit one free throw to give the Colonials a 54-51 lead with 11.9 seconds to go.

            Cirillo answered with a pull-up jumper to make it a one point game (54-53) with three seconds on the clock.  The Owls sent Eanniello back to the line and she hit one shot to give the Colonials a 55-53 lead.  Taking a court long feed, Cirillo put up a shot that was off the mark as time ran out. 

            Junior Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for the Owls, who shot 33% (20-60) from the field, but missed all eight of their attempts from behind the arc.  KSC mustered just two points off its bench.

            Junior Carly Murphy (Wolcott, Conn.) came off the bench to score 13 points for Western.  Slonki and Litwinko each had 10 points while Brandt pulled down a game high 11 rebounds.

            Keene State did a good job getting out on the Colonial's three-point shooters.  Western was just 4-21 (19%) from behind the arc and 13-21 (62%) from the line.

            Keene State returns home to face Eastern Conn. on Tuesday.