The Keene State Women’s Basketball team fell in its game against the University of Southern Maine (USM) 67-48 this past Saturday, Jan. 31.
Keene State had entered the game on a four-game winning streak with a record of 14-5, having defeated Vermont State four days prior 74-66. USM was coming in on a 15-game winning streak, with a record of 19-1, and being undefeated in the Little East Conference, defeating UMass Boston three days prior 74-51. Both teams were looking forward to continuing their winning streaks.
The Owls within the first minute of quarter one jumped out to the four point lead, with first-year forward Sydney Cassidy, assisted by senior guard Valerie Luizzi, hitting the first basket of the game, with Luizzi stealing on the next USM possession that would lead to junior captain Brynn Rautiola hitting a jump shot to make the score 4-0.
USM responded quickly with seven points from its next three possessions, making the score 7-4 with just under seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. At the halfway point KSC tied the game 7-7, but USM once again rapidly put up points over its next possessions. Rautiola and sophomore guard Ruby Dasaro both made a pair of field goals to cut the lead to 14-11 going into the second quarter.
The second quarter was controlled by the Huskies, outsourcing the Owls 19-5 throughout the entire quarter. Both teams traded points during the opening two minutes, senior guard Jaycie Christopher increased the Huskies’ lead by nine through back-to-back possessions. Sophomore guard Kiley Bundy scored a three-pointer for the Owls, but it would ultimately be the last basket for the Owls for the rest of the first half. For the rest of the second quarter, Keene had five turnovers, half of the total ten for the whole game. The first half came to an end with a USM-led score of 33-16.
The start of the third saw the Huskies score on eight of their 13 possessions to lead by 30. Halfway through the quarter, Dasaro and Christopher traded baskets, then sophomore guard Lucy Wiles and Cassidy traded three-pointers, though USM still held a 30-point lead with less than three minutes left in the quarter. The Owls defense came away with three steals towards the end, leading to two baskets and three going into the fourth.
The fourth quarter was the only one of the game where the Owls outscored the Huskies, 18-12, but it was just simply not enough as they could not mount a comeback. The first three minutes saw KSC cut the lead down to 19, but USM responded to bring the lead back to 25 with just half the time remaining. The rest of the quarter saw KSC go on a 10-4 run as junior guard Kate Canavan hit a pair of threes, while first-year forward Isabelle Glenn-Smith scored her first collegiate basket. USM would hold onto the lead and win, making it 16 wins in a row.
USM remains undefeated in the Little East Conference and will travel next Wednesday to play against Rhode Island College. Keene State will return home for a game also on Wednesday, Feb. 4, against Plymouth State University for a season sweep.
Nathan Eliopoulos can be contacted at
neliopoulos@kscequinox.com
