KEENE, N.H.--Sandi Purcell scored 21 points, leading four players in double-figures as the No. 2 seed Keene State College women's basketball team reached the semifinals of the Little East Conference tournament with a 70-58 win over No. 7 Rhode Island College on Tuesday night at Spaulding Gym.

Records

• Keene State: 22-4
• Rhode Island College: 7-17

Playoff Roundup

• Keene State will play the winner of UMass Boston and Western Connecticut, which was postponed tonight due to inclement weather in the Danbury area.  The other semifinal will see top seed Eastern Connecticut State, which escaped an upset from No. 8 seed Plymouth State, face No. 5 seed UMass Dartmouth, who beat No. 4 seed Southern Maine 61-58 in overtime. 
• The semifinals will be on Friday at Eastern Connecticut State University.  Times will be announced on Wednesday.

Tale of the Tape

• Purcell was joined in double figures by Stephanie D'Annolfo, who had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Sarah Kober, who had 11 points and eight boards.  Ryanne Williams notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
• Keene State went to the free throw line a whopping 44 times, making 32, and committed just seven turnovers.  The Anchorwomen managed only 13 free throw attempts.
• Alex Moore led RIC with 13 points, followed by Molly Philips with 12 and Devin Hill with 11.
• Keene State tied the school record for wins in a season with 22, matching the 2007 team.  That squad is the only KSC women's basketball team to make the NCAA tournament in the Division III era.

First Half Highlights

• Purcell made a three pointer on the Owls' first possession as Keene State raced out to a 11-4 lead. 
• Williams and Amanda Petrow each made two free throws as Keene State led 20-8 after the first quarter.
• The Anchorwomen clawed back into the game, as Meghan Reall made a pair of three pointers to cut the lead to 29-22 with 5:51 left in the first half.
• Purcell's free throws with 29 seconds left gave KSC a 38-25 lead at halftime.

Second Half Highlights

• RIC got within nine (40-31) with 7:10 left in the third quarter on a basket by Phillips, but Keene State slowly stretched the lead out, taking a 49-35 lead on Williams' free throws.
• Purcell had two more free throws and a layup as KSC led 53-38 at the end of three.
• The Owls made 10 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter to salt away the win.