KEENE, N.H. – After scoring 25 points in the first quarter, the most in the opening quarter on the season for the Keene State College women's basketball team, the Owls cruised to an 83-73 win over the University of Vermont Castleton on Wednesday afternoon.

Records

• Keene State: 6-6 (2-1 LEC)
• Castleton: 4-8 (0-3 LEC)

How it Happened
Both teams started off the game with a pair of made baskets as Samantha Lee and Valerie Luizzi made field goals to jump ahead, but Emily Dingman and Emily Adams tied the game back up at four 2:42 into the contest. The Owls then jumped out to a nine-point lead following a three from each Luizzi, Brynn Rautiola, and Angel Pillsbury, all on back-to-back-to-back offensive possessions. After the first quarter reached under six minutes remaining, both teams traded baskets back-and-forth, as Rautiola scored five points, but Arianna Coombs and Luna Perry-St. Peter combined for five for the Spartans, as well. The Owls' largest lead in the quarter came with 1:03 remaining after KSC went on a 7-1 run over the previous 2:43 of play, with Luizzi making a layup and Avery Stewart accounting for the other five points. Dingman's two free throws at the end of the quarter cut KSC's lead to 13 going into the second quarter. 
 
After the Owls finished the first quarter ahead 25-12, both teams scored 16 apiece over the second quarter. Castleton started the game on a 6-2 run to cut the Owls' lead down to nine but that's as close as the Spartans would get to KSC in the second quarter. Rautiola went 4-for-5 at the free throw line over the next two minutes, along with a three from Kiley Bundy for seven straight points for the Owls. Over the next minute, both teams combined for 11 points, with Coombs and Dingman both converting on and one opportunities for the Spartans for six points, with Pillsbury accounting for all five for KSC. In the last three minutes of the half, Castleton outscored KSC 4-2 as the Owls took their 41-28 lead into the half.
 
The third quarter was the highest scoring quarter for the Owls so far this season as they tallied 31 points after shooting 11-for-18 (61.11%) from the field, 4-for-8 (50%) from three, and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Coombs opened the third with another and-one, but KSC responded with a 10-point run over the next four minutes. Luizzi and Rautiola both hit a three, while Lee and Pillsbury both made layups to increase the Owls lead to 20 over the Spartans. Both teams continued to trade baskets over the next few possessions as Castleton scored eight to KSC's four over the next few minutes. In the final 3:34 of the third quarter, KSC scored on seven of their nine offensive possessions, scoring 17 points, compared to nine from the Spartans. Stewart scored the first five of 17 points for the Owls, while Luizzi also recorded five from a layup and converting all three of her free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. Rautiola and Pillsbury knocked down jump shots to go with Luizzi assisting on Bundy banking a three off the glass at the buzzer to give the Owls a 72-48 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
The final quarter the Spartans tried to make a comeback attempt as they outscored KSC 25-11, but it fell short in the end as KSC held onto their 10-point win. Castleton opened the first three minutes of the fourth with 10 straight points with Dingman accounting for five of her team's 10. KSC went on a run of their own over the next three minutes with Rautiola scoring seven points and Luizzi adding a pair to just four points from the entire Spartans' team over the same time span. The Spartans scored 11 to just two from KSC for the remainder of the contest, but it was not enough as KSC held on for the 83-73 victory. 
 
Inside the Paint

• With the win, KSC takes the lead in the all-time series between the two schools, 8-7 over Castleton. KSC has won the past four in a row with an average margin of victory of eight points.
• Rautiola led the game with 26 points and a team-high six rebounds, with Luizzi being close behind with 21 points in the win.
• Pillsbury and Stewart also scored in double-figures, as both also went 2-for-2 each from beyond the arc. Pillsbury recorded a career-high 12 points in 33 minutes played (also a career high in a game) in her first career start. Stewart scored ten to go with her pair of blocks and steal on defense for KSC.
• Dingman led Castleton with 22 points and recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds.
• KSC led wire-to-wire not trailing at all in the contest, with their largest lead being 24 at the end of the third quarter.
• Castleton scored 38 of their 73 points (52.1%) in the paint, while KSC scored 28 of their 83 points (33.7%) in the paint.
• KSC capitalized on the Spartans' 19 turnovers, scoring 23, compared to Castleton scoring 14 on KSC's 14 turnovers.

 
Up Next

Keene State continues Little East Conference play in their next contest as they hit the road and travel to take on the University of Massachusetts-Boston on Saturday, January 11, at 1:00 PM.
Castleton next plays on Saturday, January 11, as well, as they host the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth at 12:00 PM.