Providence, R.I.-Freshman forward Vandell Andrade (Providence, RI) posted her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds as Rhode Island College defeated Keene State, 54-49, in Little East Conference women's basketball action played at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.

RIC (10-4, 4-1 LEC) senior guard Ashley O'Dell (Lincoln, RI) contributed 12 points, four rebounds and two steals, while junior forward Cara Paladino (Arlington, MA) pitched in with 10 points and three boards.

Keene State (5-9, 0-5 LEC) senior forward Siobhan Carnell (Quincy, MA) led the visitors with 15 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Christan Wojtas (Amherst, NH) registered 14 points, while classmate forward Courtney Roberts (Sutton, MA) had nine points, six boards and four assists.

Rhode Island College opened the game with a bucket by Paladino to build a 10-4 advantage on an Andrade layup at 16:22. Keene State went on an 6-2 run to pull within a pair, 10-8, at 14:21, but the hosts responded with back-to-back three-pointers from O'Dell to go up by seven, 18-11, at the midway point of the stanza.  

A layup by freshman guard Danielle LeBlanc (Warwick, RI) gave the Anchorwomen their largest lead of the half (16 points), 27-11, with 3:28 remaining. Keene went on a 7-1 surge to close out the half down by 10 points, 28-18.

RIC shot 44 percent (11-for-25) in the first half and held the advantage in rebounding, 28-18. The Owls shot 25 percent (6-for-24) from the field and made just 1-of-8 (13 percent) from downtown.

The Anchorwomen led by 12, 35-23, after a senior forward Courtney Burns (Rockland, MA) jumper at 14:35 of the final half before things took a turn for the worst. The Owls chipped their deficit down six points, 41-35, at 8:43 thanks to two Roberts free throws.

A layup by Roberts and back-to-back Carnell jumpers tied the game, 44-44, at 5:47, but the hosts responded with five straight points as O'Dell made a free throw, Paladino cashed in a pair from the charity stripe and senior forward Melanie Cline (Glocester, RI) drained a layup.

Carnell pulled KSC with two, 51-49, with two free throws at 1:31 and after forcing the Anchorwomen into a turnover with 32 seconds left, looked poised to even the contest once again. The Anchorwomen's defense forced a five-second call at 13 seconds and a pair of free throws by O'Dell and one from Cline sealed the win for RIC.

RIC shot 31 percent (16-for-52) from the field, 19 percent (3-for-16) from downtown and 61 percent (19-for-31) from the free throw line. KSC shot 31 percent (16-for-52) from the floor, 27 percent (4-for-15) from downtown and 65 percent (13-for-20) from the free throw line.

The Anchorwomen held the advantage in rebounding, 47-35, but turned the ball over two more times (23-21) than the Owls.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference play at UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday, January 15 (5:30 p.m.).