Box Score KEENE, N.H.--The Keene State College women's basketball team recovered from a one point halftime deficit for an 88-73 non-conference win over visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night.
Keene State is now 6-0, the best start to a season since 1989-90, when head coach Keith Boucher was in his first season in charge. That team began the year 8-0, which is the best start in school history. The six game winning streak is the longest since 2011.
Kelsey Cognetta led four KSC players in double-figures with a season high 17 points. She was joined by Sarah Kober and Sandi Purcell, who each chipped in 14, and Valerie Martin, who netted 10. Stephanie D'Annolfo stuffed the stat sheet with six points, nine rebounds, six assists, three blocked shots, and two steals.
Kober pulled down nine boards, as KSC outrebounded RPI 48-39.
Keene State raced out to an early 13-2 lead as Purcell drilled three three pointers in the first four minutes. RPI pulled back within 15 12 with a 10-3 run spurred by seven points from Keene native Ashley Clough.
Valerie Martin and LaKissa Martin traded baskets in the final minute of the first quarter as KSC finished with a 25-21 lead. RPI scored the first 10 points of the second quarter to take a 31-25 lead, but KSC pulled back as Cognetta knocked down a three and a pair of three throws.
Amanda Petrow's layup with 27 ticks on the clock in the second quarter trimmed the RPI lead to 39-38 at halftime.
The Owls opened the second half with by outscoring the Engineers 10-5, taking a 48-43 lead on Stephanie D'Annolfo's free throw, but LaKissa Martin and Sam Krumbhaar hit consecutive baskets to get within 53-52 before KSC ended the half with a three point play from Kober and two free throws from Valerie Martin to lead 58-52 after three quarters.
Keene State continued to pull away in the fourth quarter, taking a 68-58 lead on Valerie Martin's layup with 6:28 to play, and going up 84-65 on Lydia Vital's free throw with 1:20 remaining.
Clough led RPI with 16 points.
Keene State begins Little East Conference play by hosting UMass Dartmouth at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Engineers will take on Anna Maria College on Saturday at the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament as Wesleyan University.
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