PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In the second consecutive Little East Conference tournament semifinal appearance for the Keene State College women's basketball team, the Owls were defeated on the road, as this year, KSC fell to Rhode Island College as the Anchorwomen took the lead early and held on the entire game, 73-54.

Records

• Keene State: 18-9 (11-5 LEC)
• Rhode Island College: 21-5 (14-2 LEC)

How it Happened


RIC opened the contest up with six consecutive points as they scored on back-to-back-to-back possessions for the early lead. Rautiola scored for the Owls two minutes into the contest with a field goal, but the teams continued to trade baskets over the next four minutes, with RIC outscoring Valerie Luizzi and the Owls, 6-4 as she accounted for both KSC baskets. After the Anchorwomen increased the lead to nine with another three, KSC pulled within five with a field goal from each Cassidy and Rautiola with 2:05 left in the first. Unfortunately for the Owls, that was the last points in the opening quarter as RIC went on a six-point run to end the quarter, just as they opened the quarter on, for a 21-10 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
Both teams opened the second quarter by trading baskets as Luizzi scored for the Owls, bringing her total to six of the Owls' 12 points at the moment. KSC was able to cut the lead to 10 on a 5-4 run with another basket from Luizzi and an and-one from Ruby Dasaro, but the Anchorwomen increased the lead back to 17 points with two minutes remaining in the half. In the closing 1:19 of the second quarter, RIC outscored KSC 5-4 as Rautiola and Cassidy added two more points apiece and the Anchorwomen went into the half up 39-21 as Naima Bleou hit a three with seconds remaining for RIC.
 
RIC opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run over the opening 5:02 of the quarter as the Owls went 0-for-9 from the field over the span. Nicole Norton assisted Luizzi for a three with 4:40 remaining in the third for the first basket for KSC in the quarter, but after RIC answered back with their own three, Luizzi responded with an and-one for her sixth points over the past 39 seconds. The remainder of the third the Owls went on a 7-4 run with Luizzi and Dasaro both accounting for three and Rautiola hitting a free throw to cut the lead to 22 heading into the fourth.
 
In the opening 1:31 of the third, both teams traded a pair of baskets, favoring the Owls, 5-4, with Dasaro scoring a jumper and then assisting Kiley Bundy on a three. After the Anchorwomen scored shortly after, Bundy assisted the Owls next basket as Bella Schultz-Mitchell hit a three. Both teams traded baskets over the next few minutes as the game moved to three minutes remaining as Dasaro scored four more and Bundy added a pair to keep the lead to 20 with little time remaining for the Owls. The rest of the way the Owls waived the white flag as KSC pulled their starters as RIC pulled away for the 73-54 victory.
 
Inside the Paint

• KSC falls to 28-35 in the all-time series with the defeat, bringing RIC's win streak to 18 games in a row against the Owls.
• Luizzi led the Owls with 17 points in her final LEC game for the Owls on 50% (6-for-12) from the field.
• Dasaro finished the game with 12 points as she also picked up two steals, bringing her season total to 82 and still currently sits in fourth place for most steals in a single season with 82.
• While Rautiola only scored seven points, she led KSC with team-highs of five boards and two assists.
• KSC only had 13 turnovers, which resulted in 20 points off turnovers for RIC, while the Owls were only able to score 19 off 23 RIC turnovers

 
Up Next


Keene State awaits the ECAC Tournament field for their next contest.
RIC travels to take on the University of Southern Maine in the LEC Championship on Sunday, March 1, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.