KEENE, N.H. 12/3/13 - The Thanksgiving break didn't slow down the Keene State College women's basketball team which raced past RPI 81-53 in non-conference action at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night. 

Winners of three straight games, KSC improves to 4-2.  RPI (2-5) has dropped four of its last five games.

"We got a lot of momentum following the win over Southern Main and just kept the ball rolling," said junior Christan Wojtas (Amherst, N.H.).  "We're really playing unselfish basketball right now. We're coming together and really clicking."

Wojtas led a balanced Owl offense with 13 points.  Classmate Courtney Roberts (Sutton, Mass.), who hit five of her six shots from the field, also finished in double figures with 10 points. Freshman Stephanie D'Annolfo (Tyngsborough, Mass.) filled up the score sheet with eight points, a game high eight rebounds five assists, two steals, and three blocks.

"We got out early. Our whole focus was to run and try to make them get up-and-down the court because we were a little bit more athletic than they were," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher. 

Sophomore Ashley Clough (West Chesterfield, N.H.), who connected on seven of her 11 shots from the field and hit five three-pointers, had a game high 20 points for the Engineers.  "One of our goals was to contain Ashley Clough and we didn't do a real good job with that," Boucher said. "She's a very good player and hit some big threes for them.  It was nice to see her play here."

Using its speed and ball movement, Keene State jumped out to an early lead that it never relinquished. "Everyone contributed today," said sophomore point guard Kelsey Cognetta (Stamford, Conn.).  We tried to reverse the ball and get good shots." 

KSC finished with a season high 24 assists. 

Freshman Jovan Kingwood (Norwalk, Conn.) gave the Owls a spark off the bench in the first half, including an unconventional four-point play.  After hitting a lay-up, Kingwood grabbed the rebound off of her missed free throw.  A few passes followed before she eventually made a second lay-up to put KSC up 21-13 at the 11 minute mark.

Keene State outscored the Engineers 12-3 over the final four minutes of the half to take a 43-21 lead at the break. Wojtas hit the last two baskets for the Owls, including a buzzer-beating baseline jumper. 

The Owls picked right up where they left off in the second half.  Cognetta knocked down a three-pointer in KSC's first possession and later found freshman Sarah Kober (Easthampton, Mass.) for a transition lay-up that put KSC up 50-24.  A few minutes later, Kober fed sophomore Ryanne Williams (Norwell, Mass.)  for an uncontested lay-up that made it 56-29. 

Keene State dominated the boards 55-38, including a 22-7 edge in offensive rebounds.

Keene State returns to Little East Conference play on Saturday (1 p.m.) when it travels to UMass-Boston.  RPI is off until Jan. 4 when its plays Williams College.