GORHAM, Maine – Scoring only nine points in each the second and fourth quarter, the Keene State College women's basketball team was unable to comeback for the win at the University of Southern Maine on Saturday afternoon, falling by a final of 68-49.

Records

• Keene State: 5-6 (1-1 LEC)
• Southern Maine: 5-7 (1-2 LEC)

How it Happened


Both teams got off to a slow start as they each only tallied a point in the opening 2:20 of play. Over the next three minutes, the Huskies went on a 11-2 run, as Owls' head coach Keith Boucher called a timeout to have his team regroup and not let the Huskies get too far ahead early on. Whatever Coach Boucher said in the timeout worked out, because the Owls went on a 12-point run over the next 3:20 to retake the lead. Ruby Dasaro led the way with four of the 12 points, while Brynn Rautiola also tacked on a three. The Huskies ended the final 1:06 of the first quarter by shooting free throws on three consecutive possessions, going 5-for-6, for five consecutive points and a 17-15 lead over KSC heading into the second quarter.
 
The second quarter was the lowest scoring of the day as the teams combining for just 20 points and the Huskies having the narrow 11-9 advantage. In the opening four minutes of the quarter, only six points were scored, both being threes from the Huskies as Lucy Wiles and Liz Cote hit shots on back-to-back possessions to increase USM's lead to 23-15. Ober the next two minutes each team made a layup with Samantha Lee scoring for KSC, while Emma Stred scored for USM. KSC ended the half on a 7-3 run with Rautiola going 5-for-6 at the line and Dasaro scoring a layup with just nine seconds left in the half as USM held onto their 28-24 lead heading into the half.
 
USM jumped out to a nine-point lead to start the third quarter as Dakota Shipley scored six of the Huskies' eight points in the opening four minutes, compared to KSC scoring just three, all coming from free throws made from Valerie Luizzi after being fouled on a three-pointer attempt. Just as she did at the end of the second, Rautiola continued to hit her free throws, going 4-for-4 to cut USM's lead to five with 5:08 left in the third. After the Huskies increased their lead back to nine shortly after, a three from Luizzi and layup from Dasaro cut the lead back down to four. In the final 2:14 of the third, the teams scored on five of the last eight combined possessions, with the Huskies going on a 9-4 run. Avery Stewart made a layup, while Rautiola hit both her free throws for KSC's points, while USM got three points from each Cote, Campbell Doughty, and a three at the buzzer from Ali Portas to give USM a 49-40 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
The Huskies ran away with the game in the fourth as they outscored KSC 19-9. KSC was able to cut the Huskies' lead to only three, 2:16 into the quarter as Dasaro hit a three and after Rautiola picked up a steal on defense, she hit a three of her own on the ensuing offensive possession for the Owls. USM went on another run over the next three minutes, as they increased their lead back to 10 after scoring seven straight points. After Rautiola hit a jump shot to try to start a scoring run of their own with 4:38 remaining, the Huskies didn't allow it as they scored 12 straight points to jump out to a 20-point lead with little time remaining. In those final 4:38 of the contest, KSC turned the ball over twice, while going 0-for-6 from the field (0-for-3 from three) and 1-for-2 at the line as Lilly Krysinski's free throw with 21 seconds left made the final score 68-49 in favor of the Huskies.
 
Inside the Paint

• With the loss, it marks the 50th loss for KSC in the 64 total matchups (21.9%) between the two schools since 1998. USM avenged their loss at home to the Owls last season, when KSC won 69-64 back on January 20, 2024.
• Rautiola led the Owls in points in her 39:19 on the court, despite shooting 3-for-19 (15.8%) from the field and 2-for-11 (18.2%) from three, she went 11-for-12 (91.7%) from the free throw line for 19 total points. Rautiola also recorded five rebounds (two offensive wand three defensive) to go with her block and steal on defense.
• Dasaro was also in double-figures, as she scored 12 points in her 36 minutes played.
• Stewart and Krysinski tallied a total of 19 rebounds, half of KSC's 38 as a team, with Stewart tallying four on each offense and defense, while Krysinski had three offensive boards and eight on defense.
• KSC had 15 turnovers, which resulted in 19 points for the Huskies, while USM had 12 turnovers, resulting in 16 points for KSC.
• KSC shot 25.5% (14-for-55) from the field, their third-worst shooting performance on the year, along with going 4-for-22 (18.2%) from beyond the arc. On the bright side, KSC went 17-for-21 (81%) on free throws.

 
Up Next

Keene State continues Little East Conference play in their next contest as they host the University of Vermont Castleton on Wednesday, January 8, at 4:00 PM.
Southern Maine also plays their next game at home on Wednesday, January 8, but at 5:30 PM, as they host the University of Massachusetts-Boston.