WORCESTER, Mass.--Sandi Purcell scored 23 points, shooting 5-for-7 from long range, as the Keene State College women's basketball team toppled Worcester State University 71-53 at Harrington Gym at Worcester Polytechnic Insititute on Monday.

Records

• Keene State: 12-1
• Worcester State: 4-10 

Tale of the Tape

• Playing the Lancers for the second time in two weeks, Keene State outscored the Lancers 21-7 in the second quarter to break open the game.  
• Purcell was joined in double-figures by Kelsey Cognetta, who scored 16 points and passed out five assists.  Sarah Kober pulled down 10 rebounds, her fifth game this year with 10 boards or more.
• Kaitlyn Berkel led the Lancers with 13 points.  The Lancers committed 25 turnovers and shot just 60% from the free throw line. 

First Half Highlights

• Keene State raced out to an early 7-3 lead, with Cognetta scoring all seven of the points, but the Lancers went on a 14-3 run, hitting five of their six shots during that span, to take a 14-10 lead
• Purcell pulled Keene State back in the game by making a pair of threes in the final 2:20 of the opening period to tie the game at 16.
• Keene State opened the second quarter outscoring the Lancers 16-1, as Purcell scored five straight points and Ryanne Williams had four during the burst
• A free throw from the Lancers Kate Surprenant trimmed the KSC lead to 34-23 with 2:02 left in the second quarter, but the Owls got a layup form Valerie Martin and a free throw from Sarah Kober to lead 37-23 at halftime.

Second Half Highlights

• Keene State kept the Lancers at bay in the second half, getting a three and a pair of foul shots from Valerie Martin, and led 52-36 at the end of the period on Emily McPadden's layup with 40 seconds left.
• The Lancers got within 16 with 3:25 to go on two foul shots by Natasha Gonzalez.
• Keene State took its biggest lead on a three from Lydia Vital with 1:21 left.

Up Next

• Keene State Returns to Little East Conference play by hosting Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.
• Worcester State will host Fitchburg State on Saturday at 1 pm.