NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Valerie Luizzi and Brynn Rautiola combined to score 44 of the Keene State College women's basketball team's 65 points in the Owls' 65-53 win over Wellesley College on Saturday afternoon in the Ed Hockenbury Invitational.
 

Records

• Keene State: 3-5
• Wellesley: 3-6

How it Happened


KSC opened the game by scoring the first five points with Brynn Rautiola hitting a three and Ruby Dasaro making a layup for the Owls. The Blue cut the Owls lead to one with 4:08 remaining in the quarter, but the Owls answered right back with Luizzi scoring a basket in back-to-back possessions to increase KSC's lead to 9-4 with three minutes left in the first. In the final 1:20 of the quarter, Wellesley scored five points, but a three from each Luizzi and Angel Pillsbury gave KSC a 15-9 lead heading into the second.
 
KSC opened the second, just as they did the first, by scoring the first five points, with Pillsbury hitting another three, and Samantha Lee hitting a jumper to extend their lead to 11 in the first minute of the quarter. After scoring just nine points in the first quarter, Wellesley scored 13 straight points over the next five minutes to jump out to a 22-20 lead. Rautiola and Luizzi each hit a three as KSC retook the lead by four with 2:43 remaining in the half. Three layups down the stretch in the half gave the Blue a two point lead with 20 seconds left to go, but Rautiola hit a buzzer-beating three to give KSC a 29-28 lead into the half.
 
Wellesley scored a pair of baskets in the opening three minutes, compared to just one from KSC as the Blue retook the lead in the third. KSC answered right back with Luizzi hitting a three and then converting on an and-one, followed by Lee grabbing the offensive board and putting it back up and in to put KSC back up by seven after scoring on three straight possessions. Trinity Barrow hit a three with 4:20 left for the Blue, but once again KSC answered right back with Luizzi netting a fast break layup and then Pillsbury hitting a pair of free throws to put the Owls up by eight with 1:32 left in the quarter. Mirella Funari netted a jump shot for Wellesley in the final minute to cut the Owls' lead to six heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
Barrow opened the scoring in the fourth with a jump shot but Kiley Bundy responded right back for KSC with a three from Lilly Krysinski on the Owls' ensuing possession. The Blue scored nine straight points to take a two point lead with 6:43 left to play, but Luizzi got the lead back for KSC with a three-pointer. The Owls' lead lasted for just 14 seconds, where Funari made a layup but KSC snatched the lead right back with another three from Rautiola on their next possession. KSC scored on their next two possessions to increase their seven after Rautiola hit her fifth three and Dasaro made a layup with 4:50 remaining. Wellesley was unable to mount a comeback as Barrow scored the only basket for the Blue the rest of the way, while the Owls went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, to go with a layup from Stewart at the buzzer to cement the 65-53 win for the Owls.
 
Inside the Paint

• With the win, KSC has won both of their matchups in the series against Wellesley, as KSC won the only other meeting, 74-35, back on November 11, 2014.
• Luizzi led all scorers with 23 points, while Rautiola was close behind with 21 for the Owls.
• Luizzi also had a game-high of eight rebounds, while Rautiola and Dasaro each tallied six apiece, as well.
• For the second consecutive game, KSC was perfect from the free throw line, going 9-for-9 on the day, after going 7-for-7 against the Panthers the night before.
• Barrow, Luizzi, and Dasaro all recorded game-highs of three steals apiece.

 
Up Next


Keene State kicks off their Little East Conference play in their next contest, as they host Plymouth State University on Wednesday, December 11, at 5:30 PM.
Wellesley plays Salem State University for their next game, as they host the Vikings on Tuesday, December 10, at 7:00 PM.