KEENE, N.H. – Antonia Corsinetti made five of six from three-point range in the final 20 minutes and Rhode Island College shot 9-of-12 overall as a team from distance in the second half as they held off a game Keene State College women's basketball team 61-53 in Little East Conference action Friday night at Spaulding Gymnasium.

Records

• Keene State:  5-11, 2-7 LEC
• Rhode Island College:  15-4, 10-0 LEC

How It Happened
After ending their losing streak on Wednesday against Plymouth State University, the Owls were back on their home court less than 48 hours later against the conference leader who entered with 10 consecutive victories.  Thanks to a pair of freshmen, KSC was in position to steal a win against a team that now has 22 consecutive league triumphs dating to February of 2020, but they could not overcome a 29 percent showing from the field.  Samantha Lee and Kenzie Durnford combined to score an impressive 23 points to pace KSC, making 10-of-13 from the field and four of their nine three-point shots.  Durnford was 3-of-6 from deep herself with all the makes coming in the first half as the Owls were within 27-23 at the break.

Rhode Island College's offense, especially after the break was not only all Corsinetti, but basically all from the perimeter.  They shot 75 percent from three-point range (9-12) in the final 20 minutes but made only a pair of two-point shots, where they were a miserable 2-for-14.  This allowed KSC to hang around even as all the triples were doing in.  It seemed as if the Anchorwomen were going to pull away quickly, with a 9-4 burst in the opening 2:20 of the second half pushing their lead to nine, where it stayed at the 7:09 mark (39-30) on their fourth triple of the half as they started 4-of-4.  However, behind Durnford and Lee, the Owls remained within 45-39 through three.  KSC was put in more trouble early in the fourth, as the Anchorwomen scored nine of the first 11 points to take a game-high 14 point lead (55-41) with 7:15 to go, but the Owls did get back to within nine (58-49) on Brianna Metellus' triple with 5:12 left.  Keene State did the job defensively, holding RIC without a point for nearly five and a half minutes, but could not get any closer than six (59-53) – which came with 13 seconds left – because they too scored only four points over the final 4:11.  KSC shot between 33 and 35 percent in each of the final three quarters, but ultimately could not overcome a 2-for-15 beginning from the floor.  After Durnford made the opening triple (and scored all six KSC points in the first), Keene State was outscored 13-3 in the remainder of the period and had to play catchup against the league's first place team and stingiest defense that has now held opponents to 32.6 percent shooting overall on the season.

Lee not only finished with an efficient 12 points, but made 4-of-6 from the floor and grabbed seven boards and had two blocks and two steals.  Durnford finished 3-of-6 from three while finishing with her 11 points.

Corsinetti's 17 points came on 5-of-7 shooting from deep.  She added six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.  Abby Phelan made big shots herself, scoring 11 on 3-of-5 long-range shooting.  Ashanti Frazier added 10 points (5-8 FG), six rebounds, and four assists.

Inside the Paint

• Lee is 34-for-69 shooting (49 percent) overall and 5-for-9 from three this season.  Her 12 points were one shy of her season and career-best mark in her rookie campaign.
• Durnford's scoring output was her highest since November 16.
• The Owls have dropped a series record nine straight to the Anchorwomen, not scoring more than 53 points in any of those games.  KSC leads the series 28-26. 

Up Next

• After three games in five days, Keene State is now off until next Wednesday (February 2) when they visit Eastern Connecticut State University (10-8, 7-2 LEC) for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off.
• Rhode Island College, who is in first by two and a half games over ECSU, travels to Plymouth State University on Monday, January 31 at 5:30 p.m.  PSU has lost nine straight.