KEENE, N.H. 1/5/13 – The University of Southern Maine broke open a close game with a 19-3 run midway in the second half on the way to defeating Keene State College 76-57 in a Little East Conference women's basketball game played at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.

Sophomore Christan Wojtas (Amherst, N.H.) scored 17 point and senior Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) finished with 15 points and six rebounds to lead the Owls (5-7, 0-3) who are still looking for their first win in the LEC.

"We knew going in it was going to be a tough game. Southern Maine is one of the top teams in the country," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.  "But I thought our kids battled.  Your margin for error against really good team is so small. We went on a scoring drought, got tired and started to foul and great teams make free throws."

Senior Nicole Garland (Portland, Me.) had a game high 21 points for the 15th ranked Huskies, (13-0, 3-0 LEC) who remain undefeated.

Despite losing top scorer senior Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, Mass.) with two early fouls, the Owls were able to stay with the top-ranked Huskies in the first half. A three-pointer by freshman Briana Curran (Fairfield, Conn.) gave KSC an early 19-13 lead. 

Southern Maine took its first lead of the half 21-19 on a three-pointer by Garland at the 8:20 mark.

The Owls temporarily took the lead in the closing minutes of the half.  Junior Carly Kiernan (Topsfield, Mass.) found sophomore Courtney Roberts (Sutton, Mass.) under the basket for a lay-up on an in-bounds play from the sideline to get KSC within two points (33-31) with 58 seconds to go.  In the Owls' next possession, Wojtas hit her sixth three-pointer of the half from the left corner to give KSC a 34-33 lead with 15 seconds to play.

Fouled while taking a three-pointer at the horn, Garland, who had 20 first half points, hit all three of her free throws to give USM a 36-34 halftime lead.

KSC knocked down six three-pointers in the first half, but didn't go to the line. Meanwhile, USM was 10-11 (91%) from the line.

Southern Maine pulled away from the Owls early in the second half.  Sophomore Taylor Flood (Sanford, Me.) hit a jumper to give USM a 47-38 lead at the 14:54.

KSC used a 12-4 run to get back into the game.  Roberts hit a running baseline lay-up to cut the Owls' deficit to one point (51-50) at the midway point of the half.

Southern Maine answered with a 19-3 run to go up 70-53 on a basket by sophomore Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Me.) with 4:32 to play.

In addition to Garland, four other Huskies finished in double-figures.  Knight scored 17 points, Jordan had 14 points, junior Erin McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) scored 12 point and senior Jordan Grant (Concord, N.H.) finished with 10 points and a game high 10 rebounds.

Both teams finished the game with 31 rebounds.

KSC shot 20-52 (39%) from the field, went 6-17 (35%) from behind the arc and connected on 11-of its 12 shots (92%) from the line.  

 USM was 20-49 (41%) from the field. The Huskies hit nine of its 20 shots from behind the arc and went 27-29 (93%) from the line.

Road warriors, Keene State will hit the road for its next three games, starting Tuesday night (5:30 p.m.) at Western Conn.