KEENE, N.H. 1/19/13 – Senior Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) scored a career high 34 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a 70-61 Little East Conference victory over UMass-Dartmouth at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.

            "We're a much better team than when we played them earlier this season," said Carnell. "It's nice to step up for my team in a big way like that. It was a good team win."

            Hitting an assortment of jumpers and lay-ups, Carnell was 12-17 from the field and hit all 10 of her free throw attempts for the Owls (7-9, 2-5 LEC).  Sophomore Christan Wojtas (Amherst, N.H.) also finished in double figures for KSC with 10 points.

            Sophomore Courtney Roberts (Sutton, Mass.) also had a strong game off the bench for Keene State with eight points and 10 rebounds.

            Freshman Colleen Kane (Arlington, Mass.) scored 14 points, junior Erika Bornemann (Canton, Mass.) had 13 points and senior Colleen Moriarty (Canton, Mass.) finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for UMass-Dartmouth (12-4, 4-3 LEC). 

            Keene State jumped out to an early lead, going up 18-3 after Wojtas (Amherst, N.H.) and freshman Ryanne Williams (Norwell, Mass.) sank back-to back three-point baskets at the 12:49 mark.

            After a couple of offensive rebounds, Roberts had a put back, extending the Owls lead to 26-10 with 7:23 to go in the half.

            Carnell, who had 10 first half points, scored the final two baskets of the half for the Owls, hitting a turn-around jumper and a lay-up off the glass to give KSC a 35-17 halftime lead. 

            "We got off to a good start in the first half and were able to maintain it for the most part," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.  "What can I say about Siobhan?  She did everything but sell tickets today." 

            The Corsairs used the three-ball to try to get back into the game.  A trey by Kane cut the Owls lead to 42-31 at the 14:50 mark.  

            Sophomore point guard Rachael Brucks (Suwanee, Geo.) helped KSC maintain its lead, finding Wojtas and Carnell for lay-ups in consecutive trips down the floor to make it 52-36 at the 10:51 mark.

            Later, Carnell hit a step-back jumper giving KSC a 60-45 lead with 5:32 to go.

            Moriarty (Canton, Mass.) got the Corsair's deficit down to single digits (60-52) and Bornemann (Canton, Mass.) hit a jumper off the glass to cut the lead to six points (62-56) with 2:46 to go.

            Carnell connected on four free throws and grabbed a big defensive rebound to secure Keene State's second conference win of the season.   

            Keene State did a good job against the bigger UMD front-line, winning the battle of the boards 49-39, including 18 offensive rebounds.

            Keene State shot 26-43 (41%) from the field, 3-13 (23%) from behind the arc, and 16-22 (73%) from the line.

            The Corsairs were 22-65 (34%) from the field, 9-29 (31%) shooting three-pointers and 7-14 (50%) from the line.

            Keene State hosts Eastern Conn. on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).