KEENE, N.H. – For the second season in a row, the Keene State College women's basketball team completed the season sweep of Plymouth State University as Brynn Rautiola continued to lead the Owls on the attack, scoring 20 points in part of the 64-50 win.

Records

• Keene State: 15-6 (9-3 LEC)
• Plymouth State: 9-11 (2-9 LEC)

Highlights
Postgame Interview (Coach Boucher)
Postgame Interview (Brynn Rautiola)

How it Happened
Both teams got off to a slow start as just 18 points were scored in the opening 10 minutes of action. KSC scored on three consecutive possessions early in the quarter, with Ruby Dasaro converting a pair of layups, and Sydney Cassidy hitting a jump shot, while PSU hit a three and the Owls took a 6-3 lead 2:40 into the contest. PSU pulled within a pair two minutes later, but that was their last basket of the opening quarter as KSC went on an 8-0 run the remainder of the first. Rautiola hit her first two threes of the game, while Dasaro added another layup as she drove to the basket to round out the eight points, giving KSC a 14-4 lead heading into the second.
 
The scoring picked up in the second quarter, with it favoring KSC again, 18-11. Both teams scored on their first two possessions of the second quarter, but it was slightly in the Panthers' favor, 5-4, with Rautiola making a shot and Angel Pillsbury making a pair of free throws for the Owls over the opening 1:15. Despite the quick start to the scoring, the attacks fell flat over the  next five minutes as KSC scored the only five points in as many minutes with Valerie Luizzi scoring her first three of the day and Cassidy adding another field goal to put KSC up 23-9 with under four minutes remaining in the first half. PSU finally added a pair of points from two free throws with 3:50 remaining in the half, but after Rautiola grabbed an offensive board the ensuing possession, she hit another three to put KSC up 26-11 with 3:31 remaining in the half. The rest of the half, the Owls' defense held strong as they came away with four steals, including three from Savanna Scali, leading to a 6-4 run for KSC from two points from each Cassidy, Scali, and Avery Stewart to give the Owls the 32-15 lead heading into the halftime.
 
Both teams combined to score on five consecutive possessions early in the third quarter, favoring the Owls 8-4 with Dasaro hitting a jumper and Luizzi hitting back-to-back threes to put KSC ahead 21, 1:32 into the third. Over the next three and a half minutes the Panthers scored seven points in a row to cut into KSC's lead, 40-26, but the Panthers did not get much closer the rest of the third, as the lowest lead that KSC had in the quarter was 13 points, as each time PSU tried to close the gap, the Owls responded right back. The rest of the third, KSC outscored PSU 11-9 as Rautiola scored six of the Owls' points, Dasaro made layups on back-to-back possessions, and Kiley Bundy hit a three as KSC took their 53-35 lead into the final 10 minutes of action.
 
Pillsbury assisted Dasaro on a basket to increase the lead back to 20, but PSU went on a 13-2 run the next four minutes as the Panthers cut the Owls' lead down to nine with five minutes remaining in regulation. Rautiola and Cassidy ended the scoring run as Rautiola hit a three and Cassidy made a jump shot to increase the lead back to 14 with 3:34 remaining. The rest of the way, both teams traded a pair of free throws and the Owls held strong for the 64-50 win.
 
Inside the Paint

• KSC improves to 49-14 I the all-time series between the two teams, having won the four most recent matchups.
• Rautiola led the Owls on the attack, tying for a game-high 20 points, including 5-for-9 (55.6%) from three, to go with three rebounds and a pair of steals. Her five threes bring her career total to 199 career threes as she is one three away from becoming the seventh Owl in program history to reach the 200 career threes made mark.
• Dasaro had one of her most efficient offensive performances of the season on the day as she scored 14 points on 7-for-12 (58.3%) shooting from the field, to go with four boards, and a game-high four assists.
• Luizzi and Cassidy both tied for the team-high eight rebounds, with each grabbing four offensive rebounds and four defensive rebounds each. Luizzi finished with 13 points, going 3-for-6 (50%) from deep and a pair of blocks, while Cassidy finished with eight points to go with her eight rebounds.
• 21 of the Owls' points came off 23 turnovers from PSU, while the Panthers scored 13 points off 15 KSC turnovers.

 
Up Next


Keene State has a week off before their next contest as the Owls return to action on the road at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth on Wednesday, February 11, at 5:30 PM.
Plymouth State also plays UMass-Dartmouth for their next contest as the Panthers host UMD on Saturday, February 7, at 12:00 PM.