CASTINE, Maine—Sophomore Brynn Rautiola's career game lifted the Keene State College women's basketball team to its first win of the season with an 82-74 win over Maine Maritime Academy on Sunday at Smith Gymnasium.

Records

• Keene State: 1-4
• Maine Maritime: 3-2

How It Happened

Rautiola netted a career high 36 points on 12-of-27 shooting from the field, including 8-of-19 from long range while playing all but three minutes in the contest.    Freshman Ruby Disaro also chipped in in a major way, scoring 18 points by shooting 5-of-7 from the field and knocking down six of eight free throws.  Valerie Luizzi was the last Owl in double-figures with 10 points.

The Owls shook off an early deficit in the first quarter, scoring the final eight points of the frame as Luizzi and Angel Pillsbury knocked down threes on consecutive possessions.   Keene State picked up where they left off in the second quarter, opening up on a 9-2 run as the Mariners missed four of their first five field goals.  

A three from Maine Maritime guard Evelyn Dagan cut the Owls' lead to four (33-29) with 2:40 left in the second quarter, but the hosts would not score again, as Rautiola netted five points in the remaining minutes to send Keene State into the break up 42-29.

The sophomore sensation continued to torn the net in the third quarter, scoring 11 of KSC's first 14 points to open up a 56-33 lead.   Maine Maritime, down 18 with 6:24 remaining, outscored the Owls 18-8 down the stretch but never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Keene State shot 49.1% from the floor as a team, easily the best output of the season, and made 15 three pointers.   

Inside the Paint

• Rautiola reached the 30 point mark for the second time in her career, having also done so against Vermont State Castleton on January 3, 2024.    She raised her scoring average by four points in the process, moving from 15.5 to 19.6 points per game.
• The single game school record is 39, done by Kate Hellus against Sacred Heart in January 1989.

Up Next

• The Owls will play at home for the first time this season, hosting Vermont State University-Johnson on December 3 at 6 p.m.
• Maine Maritime opens conference play with a home date against Husson University on December 4 at 5:30 p.m.