KEENE, N.H.--The Keene State College women's basketball team held off a late rally by the University of Southern Maine for a 60-53 Little East Confererence win on Saturday at Spaulding Gym.

Records

• Keene State: 18-3, 7-3 Little East Conference
• Southern Maine: 12-9, 6-4 Little East Conference

The Series

• Keene State earned a split of the series for the third straight year.   

Tale of the Tape

• Stephanie D'Annolfo had 14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals to pace Keene State.  Senior Ryanne Williams added 12 points and seven boards, while Sandi Purcell chipped in 10 points.
• Southern Maine's Ella Ramonas led all scorers with 18 points, and Megan Pelletier had 12. 
• Keene State outrebounded the Huskies 44-34, including 17-11 on the offensive boards.
• Williams and classmate Kelsey Cognetta were both honored before the game.

First Half Highlights

• The Owls were in control in the first half, racing out to an 11-2 lead in the first 4:21 of the first quarter behind seven points from D'Annolfo.
• Purcell's layup with 2:22 left in the quarter extended the lead to 19-8, but the Huskies scored the final five points of the period, ending with a three from Ramonas, to make it 19-13 at the end of one.
• Lydia Vital drained a three from the left wing with 5:07 left in the third quarter for a 30-17 advantage, and Williams knocked down a three with 50 seconds left to send the Owls into the locker room up 37-22.

Second Half Highlights

• Keene State struggled in the third quarter, as the Owls made just one shot from the floor and didn't score in the period until there was 2:04 left.  
• The Huskies struggled as well, making 3-of-11 field goals in the frame but outscored KSC 12-3 in the third to cut the lead to 40-34.
• The Owl offense returned to form in the fourth quarter, as Williams sandwiched a layup and a pair of free throws around a layup from Amanda Petrow that boosted the lead to 46-39 with 6:48 to go.
• After the Huskies had closed to within 48-43 with 2:05 to play, Purcell, who had been 0-for-13 from three to that point, swished home a triple on the next possession to put the Owls up eight.  
• Keene State went 7-for-10 from the free throw line in the final 1:31 to seal the win.

Up Next

• Keene State heads to Plymouth State for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off on Wednesday.
• The Huskies host UMass Boston on Wednesday, also at 5:30 p.m.