Second Half Surge Lifts Keene State Women's Basketball Past Worcester State

Photo, Recap Courtesy of Keene State

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - The Keene State women's basketball team used a second half surge to pulll away from Worcester State for a 68-46 win on Saturday afternoon at the Courtyard Marriot Tournament, hosted by Wesleyan.

Records

Keene State: 4-3, 0-0 LEC
Worcester State: 3-5, 0-0 MASCAC
Tale of the Tape

The Owls dominated in almost every statistical category, as Keene State shot a season-high 24-of-58 (41.4%) from the field and gathered 38 rebounds. Worcester State went 17-of-46 (37.0%) from the field and collected 35 rebounds. The Owls also had an edge in the paint, earning 30 points to the Lancers' 18.

Senior forward Stephanie D'Annolfo led Keene State with 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting and five rebounds, while junior guard Sandi Purcell followed with 11 points. Senior forward Amanda Petrow pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.

For the Lancers, Kaitlyn Berkel netted a game-high 15 points with five rebounds, while Bianca Langford had five rebounds off the bench.

First and Second Quarters

The Owls jumped out to a 5-0 lead to begin the first before a basket by Tanajia Smith put the Lancers on the board.

Sparked by a layup from freshman forward Rachel Bonnanzio, Keene State went on a 9-0 run to earn a 12-point lead, 14-2, with 4:52 remaining in the first.

A free throw and layup by Langford cut the Worcester State deficit to nine, but a layup by sophomore forward Josie Amerson kept the Owls lead to double-digits, and the two teams traded baskets to end the first, 18-7, Keene State.

The second quarter began with back-and-forth baskets, capped off by a layup by D'Annolfo with 5:12 left, putting the Owls up 25-11.

Worcester State used a 10-0 run to end the second, as Brianna Hackett hit a three-pointer with 33 seconds on the clock to bring the Lancers within four going into halftime, 25-21, Keene State.
Third and Fourth Quarters

The Owls opened the quarter with a 13-2 run, as they regained their double-digit lead off of a layup from D'Annolfo and went up 13 points off of a layup from junior guard Lydia Vital, as Keene State held a 36-23 lead.

A basket beyond the arc from freshman guard Hien Thach with 1:59 remaining pushed the Owls' lead to 21 points, yet the Lancers responded with a 7-0 run to end the third, 49-33, Keene State.

Sophomore guard Emily McPadden put up a three-pointer early in the fourth, before two free throws from Vital maintained the Owls' 20-point difference with 6:06 on the clock.

In the remaining minutes, the Owls were able to keep ahead by at least 18 points, as sophomore guard Emily Kreidler capped of the Keene State tally with four free throws.

Up Next

The two teams will meet again in the upcoming days, as Keene State returns to Spaulding Gym on Tuesday, December 6th to host Worcester State at 6 pm for a non-conference tilt.