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Owl Women Win KSC Tip Off Title 63-60
12TH ANNUAL PC CONNECTION
KEENE, N.H. 11/17/07 - The Owl women's basketball team won its 10th
straight KSC Tip Off Championship at Spaulding Gym on Saturday, but
it wasn't easy.
The Owls (2-0) overcame an eight point deficit with four minutes to
play to pull out a dramatic 63-60 victory over Fitchburg State
College in the championship game of the
tournament.
Trailing 60-52 following a three-point basket by Falcon freshman
guard Kim Duprey (Bernardston, Mass.), Keene State used a 7-0 run
to get to within one (60-59) with 3:03 to play. Senior
Danielle Gravely (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Michele Boudreau
(Readsboro, Vt.) both had key steals and hoops during the run that
was capped off by a baseline three-pointer by sophomore guard
Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.).
The Owls got the ball back with 1:48 to play and Gravely drove the
baseline and pulled up for a jumper to put KSC ahead 61-60.
"We just picked up on the defensive end," said Boudreau, who was
named the tournament's MVP. "We made them make some bad
passes and rush some shots."
After the Falcons were called for an offensive foul, Boudreau was
fouled but missed the front end of a one-and one. A missed
free throw and a traveling call gave the Owls the ball back with
8.5 seconds left to go.
Boudreau was fouled again and hit both attempts to give KSC a 63-60
lead. Fitchburg took the ball out of bounds, but couldn't get
off a good shot as time
expired.
I've been working on my free throw shooting," said Boudreau, who finished with 12 points. "I was a little nervous, but I had confidence in myself."
"This was a battle from the beginning to the end," said KSC Coach
Keith Boucher. "This is a great win for a young team. I was
amazed how well we played considering the conditions."
Sophomore forward Nicole Simmler, who was named to the
All-tournament team, finished with 14 points. Sophomore
forward Jen Cleveland (Newington, Conn.) and Degou were both in
double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively. Cleveland
pulled down a team high 10 rebounds.
Gravely was also selected to the All-Tournament team.
Senior forward Diana Doyle (Springfield, Mass.) had 13 points and
junior forward Steph Payette (Townsend, Mass.) finished with 12
points for Fitchburg State (1-1). Senior forward Merry
Donovan (Milton, Mass.) led the Falcons with six rebounds. Doyle
and Donovan represented FSC on the All-Tournament team.
In the consolation game, junior guard Jessica Banks (Milford,
Conn.) hit a couple of free throws in the closing seconds as
Castleton State hung on for a 59-58 win over Mount Ida
College.
Sophomore forward Cherie Parisi (South Attleboro, Mass.) scored consecutive baskets to get Mount Ida within two (56-54) with 2:15 to play.
With 30 seconds to go, senior forward Lauren Hickey (Enosburg
Falls, Vt.) missed a drive for the Mustangs. Banks hit one of
two free throws to make it 57-54 with 21 seconds to play.
Freshman guard Brienna Holiday (Dummerston, Vt.) hit a lay-up to close the gap to 57-56 with eight seconds on the clock. Banks was fouled and hit both attempts to put the Spartans up 59-56 with 7.2 seconds to go. Holiday hit another lay-up to make it 59-58. Castleton in bounded the ball and ran out the clock to preserve the win.
Banks had 16 points and seven rebounds and junior guard Mary Nienow
(Middlebury, Vt.) added 12 points for Castleton State (1-1). Parisi
had 16 points and eight rebounds and Holiday finished with 15
points for Mount Ida (0-2).
KSC TIP OFF ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP Michele Boudreau, Keene State
Nicole Simmler, Keene State
Danielle Graveley, Keene State
Diana Doyle, Fitchburg State
Merry Donovan, Fitchburg State
Mary Nienow, Castleton State
