Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Junior Kelsey Cognetta (Stamford, Conn.) and sophomore Stephanie D'Annolfo (Tyngsborough, Mass.) each scored 14 points to lead the Keene State College Owls to a 68-57 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium.
With the win, Keene State improves to 12-8 overall and 4-5 in the Little East. Southern Maine drops to 9-10 overall and 5-4 with the loss.
Cognetta, who was 2-for-11 from the field, was clutch from the free throw line. Sinking 10-of-14, overall Cognetta made nine of 11 free hrows in the final minutes of the game with the outcome in the balance. D'Annolfo was 5-for-10 from the field adding six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Sandi Purcell (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) added 11 points, while sophomore Sarah Kober (Easthampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to help KS to a 40-32 advantage on the glass.
Junior Ella Ramonas (Portland, Maine/Deering) led the Huskies with 17 points. Seniors Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine/McAuley) and junior Megan Pelletier (Winslow, Maine/Messalonskee) each had 12 points. Knight had a team-high four assists, while Pelletier paced USM on the glass with eight rebounds despite missing much of the game in foul trouble.
Down 13 with 4:05 to play after one of two free throws from Cognetta, USM rallied to pull to within two possessions, 55-49, with 2:03 to play. Knight, Ramonas and Pelletier accounted for the Huskies 7-0 run. With time working against them, the Huskies were forced to foul and the Owls closed the game out at the charity stripe making 13-of-16 to earn the win and the series split on the season.
Keene State shot 37.5 percent (21-for-56) from the field for the game and a solid 71.9 percent (23-for-32) from the free throw line. Southern Maine finished the game shooting 37.8 percent (17-for-45) from the field and 79.2 percent (19-for-24) from the free throw line, but was slowed by a 22 turnovers. KSC scored 20 of its 68 points off of USM miscues.
Southern Maine heads to Colby College on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) for a non-conference game. Keene State hosts Rhode Island College on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) in a Little East Conference match up.
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