PLYMOUTH, N.H. – After a close game early on, Valerie Luizzi reached the 1,000 career point milestone for the Keene State College women's basketball team and then dominated in the second half as the Owls defeated Plymouth State University for the 75-49 victory.

Records

• Keene State: 9-4 (3-1 LEC)
• Plymouth State: 8-3 (1-2 LEC)

How it Happened


PSU started the contest with a basketed in each of the first four minutes, but the Owls responded right back with a basket on back-to-back possessions as Brynn Rautiola hit a three and Ruby Dasaro went coast-to-coast for the layup to put KSC ahead 5-4. PSU responded right back by scoring on back-to-back possessions shortly after to retake the lead from KSC, 10-5, but the Owls responded right back again on an 8-0 run the next 2:30 of action. Kiley Bundy hit her first three of the day to start the run, while Rautiola made a free throw and Dasaro rounded out the run with the last 4 points for the Owls. Both teams traded five points the remainder of the opening quarter as Bella Schultz-Mitchell assisted Nicole Norton for a three and Avery Stewart made a layup from Rautiola as KSC took a 18-15 into the second quarter.
 
The Panthers scored on their first two possessions of the second quarter to take the lead for the third time so far, but the Owls responded right back as KSC scored on three consecutive possessions thanks to their defense. Norton's steal led to a three from Luizzi to bring her career total to 999 career points, and then Bundy forced a steal seconds later, made a layup, and converted the and-one to put KSC up four. Dasaro logged another steal for KSC and made a layup for the eighth point over the 29 second span to put the Owls up six. Both teams traded baskets back and forth over the next five minutes as PSU pulled within five after a 10-8 run where Bundy and Rautiola each hit a three, and Dasaro made a layup for the Owls. After Dasaro tacked on another basket with 23 seconds remaining in the half, Luizzi was fouled on a three pointer at the halftime buzzer sending her to the line for a chance to become the 22nd Owl to reach the 1,000 career point mark in program history. After a delay lasting over four minutes as the refs checked to see if it was a foul, the shots were awarded where Luizzi missed the first but made the next two to reach the milestone and give KSC a 38-29 lead heading into the half.
 
After reaching the 1,000 milestone Luizzi found her groove as she accounted for all 11 points for KSC on their 11-7 run to open the scoring in the second half as the teams combined to score on seven consecutive possessions combined. After Luizzi grabbed a defensive rebound, she made a layup to kick off the scoring in the second half and followed it up by assisting Rautiola and Stewart on the next two possessions while finishing it off with a three to put KSC up 49-36, 3:10 into the quarter. After the hot streak for both offenses, the teams went cold not scoring for the next 2:53. Over the final 3:57 of the third, KSC went on a 12-2 run with Rautiola, Norton and Luizzi hitting a three apiece. While Dasaro made a layup and Luizzi made a free throw to close out the scoring in the quarter to give KSC a 61-38 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
 
The final quarter of the day was the lowest scoring of the day with just 25 points being scored, favoring KSC 14-11. Elli Cox opened the scoring in the fourth for the Panthers by converting an and-one, but KSC responded with six points with Dasaro making a pair of free throws, Stewart adding one, and Rautiola making a three to put the Owls ahead by 26. Both teams traded four points over the next three minutes as Rautiola scored all four for the Owls, and the clock kept winding down in the contest. The remaining 3:35 of the contest, both teams once again traded four points apiece as Norton made another three for the Owls and Stewart tacked on a free throw as the Owls easily coasted to a 75-49 win on the day.
 
Inside the Paint

• KSC improves to 48-14 in the all-time series between the two teams having won the three most recent contests by an average of 24.7 points.
• With her 14 points, Luizzi became the 22nd member in program history to reach the 1,000 career point milestone as she joins her teammate Rautiola in the 1,000 point club.
• Luizzi also recorded her 400th career rebound in the contest, as she becomes the ninth Owl to reach both the 1,000 career point milestone and 400 rebound mark. Luizzi's three assist moves her into 15th in program history for career assists with 192 as an Owl.
• Rautiola led the Owls in scoring again by tying for a game-high 17 points, highlighted by 50% from three, going 4-for-8, to go with her three assists.
• Dasaro was close behind with 16 points, shooting 6-for-12 (50%) from the field to go with five rebounds, two assists, and a game-high four steals.
• Bundy scored in double digits for the second time this season as she recorded 12 points in her fourth start in a row, shooting 4-for-9 (44%) from the field and 3-for-7 (43%) from three to go with five rebounds and tying her career-high of three steals.
• KSC's starters scored 66 of 75 points (88%).
• The Owls capitalized on points off turnovers as they scored 31 points off 22 PSU turnovers and PSU scored 13 off 16 KSC turnovers.

 
Up Next


Keene State returns home for their next contest on Thursday, January 8 at 4:00 PM as the Owls host Eastern Connecticut State University.
Plymouth State also plays on Thursday, January 8 for their next contest as they travel to take on the University of Vermont State Castleton at 4:30.