KEY LARGO, FLA. 1/1/14 – The Keene State College women's basketball team rung in the New Year with a seat-squirming 67-64 win over Bridgewater State University in a opening-round game of the Key Largo Classic played at Coral Shores High School in Tavernier, Florida on Wednesday.

Leading by as many as 13 points midway in the second half, the Owls needed some late-game heroics to pull out the non-conference win.  Bridgewater State sophomore Vanesa Conceicao hit a basket to tie the game at 63-all with 17 seconds to play. 

Looking for the go-ahead basket in the closing seconds, KSC junior Courtney Roberts (Sutton, Mass.) missed a lay-up, but freshman Stephanie D'Annolfo (Tyngsborough, Mass.) put in the rebound to give the Owls a 65-63 lead.  "We had a special out-of-bounds play.  Courtney was open, but missed the shot," said KSC Coach Keith Boucher.  "It was a heads-up play by a freshman.  Stephanie didn't let up on the play. She got the rebound and went right up with the shot."

"I didn't think we'd win in overtime," said Boucher.  "Especially after our point guard Kelsey Cognetta (Stamford, Conn.) fouled out.  "I'm really proud of Stephanie.  She stepped up and took over at the point."

The Bears missed a chance to tie the game with seven seconds to play.  D'Annolfo grabbed the rebound and was fouled.  She hit both of her shots from the line to account for the final score. 

"We survived," said Boucher about the game that featured seven ties and eight lead changes. "We did enough to win the game."

Returning to the court following a 14 day layoff for the holidays, KSC showed little rust, taking a slim 33-31 halftime lead.  "Fortunately, we had a few practices after the break," said senior Carly Kiernan (Topsfield, Mass.), who finished with a game high 21 points and a career best 15 rebounds.  "We felt like we knew how they were going to play against us."

Kiernan hit seven of her 10 shots from the field and also spent some time at the line, connecting on seven of her 12 free throw attempts.  "It was a good match-up for me, she said.  "I tried to use my athleticism and get to the basket."

D'Annolfo scored a season high 17 points and junior Christan Wojtas (Amherst, N.H.) finished with 13 points for Keene State (5-3), which has won four of its last five games. 

Seniors Jenna Williamson scored 13 point and classmate Elisha Homich had 12 points for  Bridgewater State (5-4), which has dropped its last two games.

KSC went 25-51 (49%) from the field and 4-11 (36%) from behind the arc, but continued to struggle from the line, going 13-23 (57%).

It was the first meeting between Keene State and Bridgewater State since the two teams hooked up in the first-round of the KSC Tip-Off Tournament back in 1998.

Keene State will face Austin (Tx.) College in Thursday's championship game.  The Kangaroos edged Emmanuel College 55-54 in the other opening round game.