KEENE, N.H. – After scoring 30 points to open the season for the Keene State College women's basketball team
Brynn Rautiola made history for the Owls as she scored 32 points to become the 21st member of the 1,000-career point club in part of the 97-59 win over New England College on Tuesday afternoon.
Records
- Keene State: 2-0
- New England: 1-1
How it Happened
The first 10 minutes of action was the closest scoring quarter of the day as it was just a five-point lead after the first. Both teams combined to score on five of the first eight total possessions to start off the contest as KSC scored on three in a row as Rautiola hit a layup to start the scoring and
Valerie Luizzi and
Sydney Cassidy each hit a three to make the score 8-4 for KSC two minutes in. Following a pair of baskets for the Pilgrims and another layup from Rautiola, NEC cut the lead to two 3:30 into the contest. The scoring slowed down over the next 3:30 of play as KSC scored four points to none from NEC over the span with Rautiola hitting both her free throws and
Avery Stewart hitting a layup to go back ahead by six. NEC scored on back-to-back possessions with under three minutes remaining to cut the lead to one, but Rautiola answered right back with a three to reach the 1,000-point milestone. KSC scored on the next two possessions as
Bella Schultz-Mitchell made a layup followed by a three by Luizzi, while NEC added two more baskets to cut the lead to 22-17 heading into the second.
KSC started to pull away in the second quarter as the Owls' outscored the Pilgrims 28-15 over the 10 minutes. The first three minutes of the second only saw three baskets combined and two from KSC, as a block from
Nicole Norton lead to a layup from Rautiola, and
Kiley Bundy hit a three. Cassidy contributed to the next two baskets for the Owls as she assisted Rautiola's three and then made a layup on the next possession for the Owls. NEC outscored KSC 8-1 over the next two and a half minutes, to cut the lead to six, but it was the closest that NEC got to KSC the rest of the way. The Owls outscored the Pilgrims 17-5 the rest of the half, with Rautiola hitting a pair of threes and Cassidy and Luizzi each hitting a shot from beyond the arc, while Dasaro scored five to give KSC a 50-32 lead into the half.
Luizzi was the sole basket on either side of the first four minutes of the third quarter, which ended up being the lowest scoring quarter of the contest with only 28 points scored combined between the two teams. KSC's defense played a big part in the third as they came away with six steals, including four on consecutive possessions resulting in back-to-back threes from Luizzi and Rautiola. Following a three right after from Kaira Creary for NEC, KSC went on an 8-2 over the next three minutes with Cassidy and Rautiola each scoring four apiece for the Owls. Savannah Scali hit her first basket of the day late in the third and NEC scored on their final two possessions as KSC took a 68-42 lead into the fourth.
The Owls opened the final quarter of action on a 10-5 run as Rautiola hit yet another three, Cassidy tallied five, and Stewart rounded out the scoring to increase the lead to 31. Rautiola continued playing both sides of the ball for KSC shortly after as she picked up two more steals leading to two more baskets for the Owls. Bundy and Schultz-Mitchell added a pair of baskets over the next few minutes to increase the lead to 39, but both teams traded baskets back-and-forth in the closing minutes of the contest. Five different Owls scored in the final four minutes as Schultz-Mitchell, Scali,
Keeleigh Capps,
Kate Canavan, and
Anna Brown each tallied a basket for KSC as the Owls cruised to the 97-59 victory.
Inside the Paint
- With the win, KSC improves to 5-2 in the all-time series between the two teams, avenging the 56-50 loss to NEC last season.
- Rautiola became the 21st member of the 1,000-point club with her 32-point performance with six threes and a perfect 4-for-4 at the line in just 30 minutes.
- Cassidy finished with 17 points over 24 minutes, while Luizzi also 14 points and a game-high seven assists.
- Rautiola and Dasaro tied for a game-high six steals apiece, while Dasaro also tallied five assists and tied for a game-high nine rebounds.
- Camryn Lewis finished the day with 20 for the Pilgrims, with nine rebounds.
- KSC had just 11 turnovers compared to 33 from NEC, resulting in 37 to 6 points off turnovers, respectively.
Up Next
Keene State hits the road for their next contest at RPI on Saturday, November 15, at 12:00 PM.
NEC returns home for their next contest as they host Curry College on Thursday, November 13, at 5:00 PM.
