KEENE, N.H. 2/14/12 - Freshman Taylor McBride (Willimantic, Conn.), who finished with 15 points on 7-11 shooting from the field, scored three consecutive baskets to break open a close game and lead the Eastern Conn. State  University women's basketball team to a 61-56 Little East Conference victory over Keene State College at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night. 

Senior Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.) scored a game high 18 points and pulled down a team best seven rebounds for the Owls. 

Freshman Kristina Forsman (Newington, Conn.) had 16 points and freshman Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield, Conn.) scored 14 points, also shooting 7-11 from the field, and grabbed a game high 14 rebounds to lead the Warriors to the upset win.   

It's the second straight loss for the Owls (15-7, 9-4 LEC) who drop into third place in the LEC standings behind Southern Maine which defeated Plymouth State 74-52. KSC can finish no lower than third in the conference. With the win, Eastern Conn. (8-16, 4-9 LEC) moves into the sixth and final spot for the upcoming LEC tournament.  

The Owls jumped ahead 11-2 on jumper by junior Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.). The Warriors cut KSC's lead to one point (22-21) at the 3:56 mark on a three-pointer from the right side by freshman Danyelle Rodriguez (Willimantic, Conn.), who netted 11 of her 13 points in the first half for Eastern Conn.

Cirillo fed freshman Sarah Phelan (Northbridge, Mass.) for a lay-up in the closing seconds to give Keene State a 27-23 halftime lead.

Eastern took its first lead of the game 33-32 on a jumper by Forsman early in the second half. 

After senior Sarah Laudano gave KSC a 47-46 lead with a three-pointer at the 5:16 mark, McBride took over the game.  She scored three straight baskets, getting fouled in her last hoop and hitting the free throw to put the Warriors up 53-47 with 2:48 to play. 

Keene State made things interesting down the stretch before running out of time.

Carnell also finished in double figures with 10 points. 

KSC shot 35% from the field while ECSU was 23-51 (45%). The Warriors won the battle of the board 38-34.

Keene State hosts Lasell College on Thursday.