NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Kate Herlihy made nine of 14 shots and four of seven from three-point range en route to scoring a game-high 27 points as Rowan University used a 14-4 fourth quarter run to turn what was a five-point game into a 60-45 lead, eventually posting a 67-54 victory – their first of the season – over the Keene State College women's basketball team in the consolation game of the Tyler Tip-Off at Ainsworth Gymnasium on the campus of Smith College.

Records

• Keene State:  1-2
• Rowan:  1-2

How It Happened
The Owls hung around for most of the day, but ultimately could not overcome surrendering 23 points apiece in the first and fourth quarters or allowing the Profs to shoot 11-for-20 (55 percent) from three-point range as they dropped their second consecutive contest after winning their season opener.  KSC saw No. 11 Smith College shoot 13-of-23 from long distance yesterday in a runaway yesterday, and overall on the weekend saw their two opponents shoot 24-for-43 (56 percent) from three.  Today, the Owls stayed in the game by holding Rowan to 11-for-31 (35 percent) inside the arc while also holding a 13-6 advantage on the offensive glass.

After KSC jumped out to an early 7-2 lead three minutes in on a three from Valerie Luizzi, it seemed Rowan might take complete control very quickly, as they closed the first quarter on a 21-5 burst to take a double-digit lead after 10 minutes.  It was 26-12 at the 8:31 mark of the second quarter and still 28-13 less than two minutes later, but KSC generated one of their more impressive spurts of the young season, going on a 12-0 run in barely over three minutes to get within 28-25 with 3:16 left in the half.  Brynn Rautiola had seven points in that span, and finished with a team-high 17 on the afternoon while shooting 7-for-18 from the floor.  She added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.  The Owls' first year guard also made two of three free throws in the final seconds of the half to make it a 33-27 game heading into halftime.

Rowan scored the opening bucket of the second half in the opening minute, but those were their only points for over half of the third quarter, and Keene State drew within three (35-32) with 4:40 to go in the period on a layup from Aryanna Murray.  However, thanks to Herlihy and their three-point shooting, the Profs always answered – retaking a 44-34 advantage at the 1:47 mark following a three by Kristina Johnson.  Valerie Luizzi and Samantha Lee scored inside to make it a six-point game heading into the final quarter.

Johnson hit another backbreaking triple a little over a minute into the fourth to make it 49-41 after KSC had gotten within five again (and had a chance to get within four but missed a free throw), and Rowan began pulling away over the final seven minutes.  Lee made a jumper with 7:47 to go to make it 53-45, but Herlihy made a three on Rowan's next possession for an 11-point lead as the Owls struggled to defend the three-point line.  A pair of two-for-two trips at the foul line pushed the lead to a game-high 15 a minute later.  Luizzi made it 62-50 by connecting from distance with 3:04 to go as KSC attempted a last-ditch comeback, but Rowan answered with five straight including another three, this one from Sabrina Araujo, to make it a game-high 17-point lead with two minutes left.  Four free throws made it 67-54 with 1:09 left, but the Owls missed their final five shots and two free throws after that.

Herlihy's 27-point effort came in 28 minutes of game action.  She also grabbed seven rebounds and had three steals.  Johnson finished with 15 points (5-11 FG, 3-6 3-PT, 2-4 FT) and Araujo 13 points (4-5 3-PT) for Rowan, who made the NCAA tournament last year before being eliminated by Little East Conference member Rhode Island College 67-59 in the first round.

Beyond Rautiola, Luizzi finished with 14 points (5-13 FG, 2-6 3-PT, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists, and two steals for KSC.  Lilly Krysinski had seven points and Jackie Alibrandi seven rebounds.

Inside the Paint

• It was the first ever meeting between the two programs.
• Rowan outscored the Owls 33-12 from three.  KSC connected on only 4-of-17 from long range (24 percent) and shot 30 percent overall (Rowan 43 percent).
• The Profs had lost to Husson University 67-62 in the tournament's first round yesterday.  In that game, a close affair throughout, they shot just 4-of-22 from distance.  Husson took on the host Pioneers in the championship today, falling 77-66.

Up Next

• Keene State has an exhibition game at Dartmouth College (0-2 NCAA Division I) on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. before visiting Colby-Sawyer College (0-2) on Thursday (November 16) for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.
• Rowan hosts Eastern University () on Saturday, November 18 at 1:00 p.m.  The Profs' only other home game was a 66-52 home loss to No. 6 University of Scranton on November 8.