Box Score KEENE, N.H. – A double-double from senior guard Sarah Kirk (San Francisco, Calif.) and some clutch free-throws proved to be the difference as Middlebury College defeated Keene State College 59-55 in non-conference women's basketball action on Tuesday night.
The majority of the opening frame was a back and forth battle between the two teams. KSC junior Christan Wojtas (Amherst, N.H.) hit a three-pointer at the 13:42 mark to give the Owls an 11-4 lead, but the Panthers responded with a 9-2 run of their own to tie the game at 13.
The Owls responded with a 14-6 burst to end the first half up 29-21 after pulling down six offensive rebounds over the final five minutes of the half. Wojtas and sophomore Ryanne Williams (Norwell, Mass.) were the high scorers at the half with eight points apiece. Senior guard Sarah Marcus (Williamsville N.Y.) led the Panthers with seven points.
The Panthers clawed back to start the second half, and at the 10:40 mark Laura Lowry (W. Hartford, Conn.) caught fire, hitting three straight three-pointers, and a Crews jumper at 9:09 gave the Panthers a 44-37 lead.
The Owls appeared to regain momentum when they tied it up on a Stephanie D'Annolfo (Tyngsborough, Mass.) coast-to-coast layup with 7:26 on the clock, bringing the score back to 44 apiece.
Each team went on a run over the last seven minutes of the game, but two Elizabeth Knox (Falmouth, Mass.) free throws at 59 seconds put the Panthers back in front 55-54.
Wojtas hit the front end of a double bonus, but the Panthers pulled down the rebound off the second attempt, brought the ball over half and called timeout with 37.1 seconds remaining.
Kirk scored her biggest basket of the night on a layup with 18 seconds left to give the Panthers a two-point lead.
With 12 seconds remaining, Cognetta brought the ball over half and got a decent look at a layup, but the ball rimmed out. Nikki Stacy (Uxbridge Mass.) got an offensive rebound and found Carly Kiernan (Topsfield, Mass.) for another good look, but again the ball rolled out.
Kirk pulled down the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled by Kiernan.
At the line for two shots, she hit the first but missed the second. Knox pulled down the rebound and was immediately fouled. She was fouled by Wojtas, and went 1-for-2 from the line, making it a two-possession game at 59-55.
A last second three-pointer from D'Annolfo hit the front rim and the Panthers walked away victorious.
Kirk finished the game with 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting to go along with 18 rebounds for Middlebury. Knox was the only other Panther in double figures with 11 points.
Wojtas led the Owls with 15 points, going 4-for-9 from three-point range. Kiernan finished with 12 points and seven rebounds on 5-for-13 shooting.
The Owls finish out the season with five consecutive LEC matchups. Their next game will be played at Rhode Island College February 8th.
Middlebury heads home for a three-game homestretch, starting off with Colby College on the 9th.
