BEVERLY, Mass.--A career high 26 points from sophomore Sandi Purcell and a pair of clutch free throws from Kelsey Cognetta kept the Keene State College women's basketball team undefeated with a 60-56 non-conference win over Endicott College on Tuesday night.

The Owls (5-0) have won the first five to open the season for the first time since 2008-09.  Endicott is now 1-2.

Purcell surpassed her previous career high of 24 points set against Southern Maine last season by knocking down five of 10 three point attempts and five of seven free throws.  

Cognetta and Purcell nailed consecutive three pointers and Amanda Petrow followed with a layup for a 15-5 lead in the first quarter, but the Gulls closed out the period with the final nine points of the frame to cut the deficit to 15-14.

Valerie Martin knocked down another three and Cognetta's free throws stretched the advantage to 28-16 with 4:51 left in the first half.  Hannah Kiernan knocked down a triple with 34 seconds left to send the Gulls into the locker-room down 30-24 at halftime.

Purcell scored 13 of her points in the third quarter, including a three with 1:01 left.  Ryanne Williams and Gabriella Coppola traded baskets in the final 30 seconds of the quarter as KSC led 51-37.

The Owl offense went silent in the fourth quarter, making just one field goal in the first five minutes as Endicott clawed back to 56-53 on Kiernan's layup with 2:18 remaining, and after Petrow restored a five point advantage, Hannah Shaw scored with 1:09 left to trim the lead to 58-55.  Shaw was fouled on the next Endicott possession and made one free throw with 37 left for a two point game (58-56).

The Gulls fouled Cognetta on the next possession, and the senior calmly knocked down both shots for the final margin.  Coppola missed a layup in the final seconds.

Cognetta was the only other Owl in double-figures with 13 points.  Sarah Kober led all players with 11 rebounds, while Ryanne Williams had nine.  Stephanie D'Annolfo had six assists and blocked two shots.

Keene State returns to action after the Thanksgiving holiday by hosting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 6 p.m. on December 1.