Box Score KEENE, NH - Kelsey Cognetta's 19 second half points weren't enough as the Keene State women's basketball team fell to UMass Dartmouth 74-72 in LEC basketball play Saturday afternoon at Spaulding Gymnasium.
The loss drops KSC to 9-6, 2-3 in conference play, while the Corsairs improve to 10-4, 4-1 LEC.
Kelsey Cognetta totaled 23 points, while Christan Wojtas added 15, connecting on five 3-pointers. Stephanie D'Annolfo was just short of a triple finishing with nine points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Sarah Kober contributed seven points, all coming on free throws to go along with her 11 boards.
For the Corsairs, Beth Castantini poured in a game high 24 points, while Kelsey Garrity was key for the visitors finishing with 19 points, shooting 10-10 from the charity stripe. The Owls limited the league's leading scorer, Megan Ronaghan to 12 points on 5-13 shooting.
Keene State jumped out to an 8-3 lead on two long balls by Wojtas and a layup by D'annolfo. The teams played back and forth for a majority of the first with no team able to pull away.
A Cognetta jumper and free throws by Ryanne Williams resulted in a 30-26 lead at the half.
Courtney Roberts layup with 5:09 into the second half gave the Owls a 44-36 lead, their largest of the game, forced a UMD timeout. The visitors then responded with an 8-0 run, tying the game at 44 with 12:42 left in the contest.
Down 61-50 with 5:36 remaining in the game, KSC connected on five free throws and back-to-back 3-pointers by Wojtas and Cognetta to come within three (67-64) with 37 seconds left. A Cognetta jumpshot trimmed the lead to two (70-68) but free throws down the stretch sealed the win for the Corsairs.
The Owls won the battle of the boards 44-38 and shot an impressive 20-22 (90.9%) from the free throw line.
KSC is back in action Tuesday at Spaulding Gymnasium against Eastern Connecticut. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
