BOSTON, MASS. 1/26/13 – The University of Massachusetts-Boston broke open a close game with a 20-3 run to start the second half on the way to posting a convincing 69-48 Little East Conference women's basketball victory over Keene State College at the recently redone Clark Athletic Arena in Boston on Saturday.

            Keene State, which has dropped its last three games, falls to 7-12 and 2-7 in the conference.  UMass-Boston, which swept the season series against the Owls for the first time, improves to 12-7 (4-5 LEC). 

            Playing down the road from her home in Quincy, Mass., Siobhan Carnell, the reigning LEC and ECAC New England player of the week, scored over 20 points for the fifth straight game, finishing with 20 points and six rebounds for the Owls.  Freshman point guard Kelsey Cognetta (Stamford, Conn.) finished with 10 points to go with five steals, five rebounds and two assists.  Freshman Ryanne Williams (Norwell, Mass.) had a team high seven rebounds along with seven points and two blocks.

            The Beacons had three players in double-figures.  Sophomore Lauren Perra (Taunton, Mass.), who hit five three-pointers, finished with 18 points to go with seven assists and three steals.  Sophomore Kristen Morrison (North Reading, Mass.) had 14 points and nine rebounds and freshman Olivia Murphy (Canton, Mass.) scored 14 points along with eight rebounds.

            After a slow start by both teams, The Beacons opened up a seven point lead 21-14 on a three-pointer by junior Andrea Suffredini (Milford, Mass.)

            The Owls came right back, running off nine straight points to go up 23-21 on a follow-up by sophomore Christan Wojtas (Amherst, N.H.) at the 5:45 mark.

            Trailing 29-25 in the closing minutes of the half, freshman Brianna Curran (Fairfield, Conn.) hit one of three free throws and after grabbing an offensive rebound Carnell hit a lay-up to get Keene State within one point (29-28) at the break.  Carnell scored 13 of her 20 points in the first half. 

            The Beacons put the game away with their 20-3 run coming out of the break.  Freshman Meghan Agger (Saco, Maine) knocked down a three-pointer and Murphy hit a lay-up, concluding the uprising that put UMB up 50-31 at the 13:39 mark.

            Williams ended a five minute scoring drought by the Owls with a lay-up in KSC's next possession.

            Keene State once again struggled offensively, shooting 25% (16-25) from the field and connecting on just three of its 23 attempts (13%) from behind the arc.  They shot 13-19 (68%) from the line.

            After holding their own against the stronger and taller Beacons in the first half, KSC lost the battle of the boards 42-34.

            Keene State has the week off before traveling up to Gorham, Maine to face the LEC leading Huskies next Saturday (1 p.m.).