KEENE ATHLETICS
NEW LONDON, NH — First year Keene State guard Brynn Rautiola scored 24 of her season and career-best 27 points after halftime, including a number of momentum-changing shots, as the Keene State College women’s team led for nearly the entire game but had to stave off several Colby-Sawyer College rallies in a 66-58 win on Thursday night at the Hogan Sports Center.
How it happened
The Owls, playing in their fifth game in eight days to open the season, started fast — particularly on defense — to open a 15-3 advantage after one quarter and a 21-6 lead 2:27 into the second, but then had to hit some key shots in the second half to preserve the victory to get back to .500 on the season. Colby-Sawyer hit just one of their first 10 shots and was 2-of-15 from the field by the time they trailed by 15 just 12:27 into the game. From that point forward, playing their home opener, the hosts connected on 16 of their final 36 shots (44 percent), but Rautiola engineered an impressive second half, making eight of 13 shots (62 percent) from the floor and 4-of-7 from three while adding two assists and four steals. She also made all four of her free throw attempts, and KSC as a team was 7-of-9 at the line to help salt away the victory.
Colby-Sawyer had clawed within 27-23 at halftime. They opened the second half with a layup from Courtney Brewster to get within two, but as became a trend throughout the final 20 minutes, Rautiola’s steal and layup at the 8:24 mark helped spark a modest burst that pushed the Owls back.
Despite Keene seeming to be in control for most of the night, the Chargers would not go away, getting within 47-41 with 7:16 left following a triple and two free throws from Megan Molettieri. However, Rautiola had the answers.
The Chargers, who shot 43 percent and made 5-of-11 from distance in the fourth
Aryanna Murray finished with 10 points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal for KSC to join Rautiola in double-figures.
Up next
Keene State has the weekend off before taking on Worcester State University (1-2) at Spaulding Gymnasium on Tuesday, November 21 at 5 p.m.
Colby-Sawyer, whose first three games were all decided by four points or less, visits Plymouth State (2-1) on the same night for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.
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