KEENE, N.H. 2/4/12 – Late game foul shots by seniors Nicole Cote (Ashford, Conn.) and Meghan Farrell (Chester, Vt.) and a strong defensive stand down the stretch, enabled the Keene State College women's basketball team to hold on for a 49-46 Little East Conference win over the University of Southern Maine at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.

Winners of six straight, the Owls (14-5, 8-2 LEC) move into sole possession of second place in the LEC.  The loss snapped the Huskies (16-5, 7-3 LEC) six game winning streak.   

"This is what you call a grinder game," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.  "They're very difficult to play against, but our kids came through today."

Senior Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.) had a game high16 points to go with 10 rebounds, hitting all 10 of her shots from the line, to notch her seventh double-double of the season.

Senior Courtney Cochran (Waite, Me.) finished with 13 points and a game high 16 rebounds to lead USM. 

The Huskies jumped out to an early 11-3 lead on the first of two three-pointers by junior Haley Jordan (Falmouth, Me.).

The Owls, who had a hard time getting into their offense in the early, took their first lead of the half 22-19 on a beat-the-shot clock three-pointer by freshman Rachael Brucks (Suwannee, Geo.) at the 4:45 mark.

A lay-up by junior Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) and pair of free throws by Cirillo staked KSC to a 26-22 halftime lead. 

The Owls scored the first five points of the second half to take 31-22 lead. 

After a four and a half minute dry spell by both teams, senior Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Me.) hit a lay-up to make it 34-30. 

A drive by senior Kimberly Rivet (Bridgeton, Me.) tied the game at 36-all with 5:10 to play. 

Back-to-back three-pointer by sophomore Erin McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) put the Huskies up 44-40 with 3:06 to go.

KSC battled back to tie the game (46-46) on a pair of free throws by Cirillo at the 1:30 mark. 

The Owls got the ball back after a good defensive stand with 34 seconds to go.    After being fouled in the backcourt, senior Nicole Cote (Ashford, Conn.) went to the line and hit both attempts to give KSC a 48-46 lead with 23.5 seconds on the clock. "I was a little nervous, but I said to myself I'm going to make them for my team," said Cote about her crucial free throws. 

Following a missed shot by McNamara, Farrell was fouled in the rebound action. She made the first of her two from the line to make it 49-46 with 5.2 seconds to go.

Looking to tie the game, Southern Maine called a time out to set up a play with 2.3 seconds to go.  McNamara got the ball in the right corner, but couldn't get off a shot before time expired. "She was hot, so I knew she was going to be shooting and just had to play her for the three," said Cote. This game just gives us more incentive to play hard and keep winning." 

Cirillo was the only double figure scorer for KSC.  Carnell had nine points and six rebounds and Farrell finished with five points, nine rebounds and four assists

Jordan tallied 11 points and six rebounds for the Huskies.

Both teams struggled from the field; KSC was 13-47 (28%) while USM hit 16 of its 57 attempts (28%).  From behind the arc the Owls were 4-17 (23%) and the Huskies were 6-23 (26%).  Both teams had good days at the line.  Keene State was 19-22 (86%) while Southern Maine connection on eight of its 11 attempts.

USM had a slim 40-39 rebound advantage.

In LEC play, KSC is 4-26 against USM with all four wins coming at Spaulding Gym.

On Tuesday, Keene State travels to rival Plymouth State.  Southern Maine returns home to host Southern Maine.