PLYMOUTH, N.H. – It took a while for the scoring to start up, but it favored the Keene State College women's basketball team at the end of the day, as they pulled out a 55-45 win on the road against in-state rival, Plymouth State University.

Records

• Keene State: 8-11 (4-6 LEC)
• Plymouth State: 3-15 (0-10 LEC)

How It Happened
Neither team scored until 3:22 came off the clock, as Ruby Dasaro made a layup to put KSC up 2-0. The Owls tacked on a few more points in a row the rest of the quarter, making it seven straight, with Avery Stewart making a layup and a pair of free throws at the line, to go with one from Brynn Rautiola, to put KSC up 7-0 with 1:26 remaining in the first. With 31 seconds remaining in the first, PSU finally got on the board from a jump shot from Elli Cox, to make the score 7-2 for KSC heading into the second quarter. In the opening quarter, PSU missed their first 17 shot attempts and finished the quarter going 1-for-19 (5.26%).
 
PSU came out in the second quarter scoring five straight to tie the game up 7-7, 2:07 into the quarter. The Owls responded right back with a free throw from Valerie Luizzi and a three from Kiley Bundy shortly after. Both teams traded points over the next few minutes, as KSC was able to increase their lead to 7, up 17-10, with 3:49 remaining in the opening half. Raegan Peck cut the Owls' lead to four for the Panthers, but Rautiola hit two more free throws with 1:16 left to bring the lead back to six. To end the first half, Ashley Stephens converted on an and one to cut the Owls' lead to 20-17 heading into the second half.
 
2:13 into the third, Peck hit another three to tie the game up at 20. Both teams traded baskets, as the game was then tied at 22, but the Owls retook the lead shortly after with a layup from Lilly Krysinski with 3:19 remaining. Over the next two minutes, PSU jumped out to a 27-24 lead with five straight points. In the final minute of the quarter, Krysinski and Rautiola both made a pair of free throws as KSC regained the lead, up 28-27 heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
 
In the opening 30 minutes of the game, KSC scored 28 points, while in the final 10 minutes of the game they scored 27. Both teams scored a pair of points on their opening possessions of the quarter and over the next couple of minutes, traded more points both ways, as the game became tied at 33. Peck had tied the game up at 33 for PSU and on the ensuing possession put the Panthers back ahead by three. It did not last long, as just 25 seconds later, Rautiola hit a three to tie the game back at 36 for the Owls. Over the next three minutes, Alessia Salzillo scored four points for PSU, but Rautiola answered back every time, scoring five, to give KSC a 41-40 lead with 3:58 remaining. Over the next 2:47, KSC scored eight points straight, coming from a jumper from Krysinski and pair of free throws from Rautiola, Bundy, and Luizzi. PSU tried to make a comeback scoring five points soon after, but the game was too far out of reach as Rautiola went 5-for-6 at the line in the last 30 seconds to ice the game and give KSC a 55-44 win.
 
Inside the Paint

• With the win, KSC now leads the all-time series between the two schools, 47-14.
• Rautiola tallied a game-high 21 points, mainly coming from her 15-for-18 at the line.
• KSC shot 27-for-34 (79.4%) from the line, while PSU struggled and shot 12-for-25 (48%).
• The Owls' scored 18 points on the Panthers' 23 turnovers, while inversely, PSU scored seven on KSC's 17 turnovers.

 
Up Next

Keene State hits the road for their next contest, as they will travel to take on Vermont State University Castleton on February 4, at 5:30 PM.
Plymouth State next plays at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth for their next game on Saturday, February 1, at 1:00 PM.