KEENE, N.H. – A solid second quarter with 28 points made up for the second half struggles for the Keene State College women's basketball team on Saturday as the Owls pulled away late for the 52-49 victory to move to 3-0 on the season with the win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Records
- Keene State: 3-0
- RPI: 1-1
How it Happened
KSC got on the board first and jumped to a 5-0 lead over the opening 1:11 of action as
Brynn Rautiola and
Bella Schultz-Mitchell both assisted a basket to Cassidy, while a steal from
Ruby Dasaro led to a made free throw from Rautiola early on. After both teams traded points with RPI scoring their first five points of the day and Dasaro added three more for the Owls, the Owls tacked on four more points to increase the lead to 12-5 with 5:07 remaining in the first. Unfortunately for the Owls, KSC went scoreless the rest of the opening quarter as the Owls missed their next 10 shots while RPI scored eight straight points to take a 14-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
KSC came out of the gates hot in the second quarter, hitting threes on five of their first seven possessions for a 15-7 run as Schultz-Mitchell hit three of the threes and Rautiola and
Kelsey LaMay each added another to put KSC up six 3:20 into the quarter. RPI responded with six consecutive points over the next minute and a half to tie the game up at 27, but KSC went on a 13-2 run the rest of the quarter to go up 11 at the half. Schultz-Mitchell kicked off the Owls' scoring run with her fourth three of the quarter before Rautiola added nine more points of her own and
Kiley Bundy hit a free throw to put KSC ahead 40-29 with 20 to play.
After the Owls went 9-for-16 (56.25%) from the field, including 6-for-7 (85.71%) from three in the second quarter, KSC could not get going in the third as over the next 10 minutes of action the Owls shot 2-for-17 (11.76%) from the field and missed all five attempts from three. Luckily for KSC, RPI shot 3-for-13 (23.08%) from the field, including 2-for-8 (25%) from the line in the third and the two teams combined for just 12 points over the 12 minutes, favoring the Engineers 8-4. Rautiola made both baskets for the Owls in the quarter as the Owls took a 44-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
RPI scored seven straight points over the opening 3:14 of the quarter, but after Rautiola answered back with a three on the Owls' ensuing possession, the Engineers responded right back with a three of their own to tie the game at 47 with 4:34 remaining. 90 seconds later Rautiola once again but KSC back ahead with a pair of free throws, but it did not last long as RPI followed suit again by hitting a pair of free throws of their own to tie the game back up at 49 with 2:54 remaining. With 1:44 remaining in the contest Bundy put the Owls back ahead a pair and the rest of the contest Amanda Gallagher missed a pair of free throws and a field goal for RPI, while Bundy tacked on one more free throw to help the Owls hang on late for the 52-49 victory.
Inside the Paint
- KSC improves to 9-7 in the all-time series between the two teams, avenging last year's 68-64 defeat as the Owls have also won six of the last seven matchups against the Engineers.
- Rautiola led the Owls with her second consecutive contest scoring the game-high as she recorded 22 points, while also recording team-highs of four assists, two blocks, and tying Schultz-Mitchell with three steals to go with six rebounds.
- Schultz-Mitchell recorded her 14 points in the opening half of action, while logging a team-high nine boards.
- Bundy and Cassidy both recorded five rebounds apiece while combining for 10 points.
- The Owls scored 15 points off the Engineers' 22 turnovers, while RPI recorded three points off the Owls' nine turnovers.
- Every member of the Owls team recorded a steal that player in the contest.
Up Next
Keene State is back at home for their next contest as the Owls host Dean College on Tuesday, November 17, at 6:00 PM.
RPI returns to action on the road again for their next contest as the Engineers travel to take on Williams College on Wednesday, November 18, at 7:00 PM.
