WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University women's basketball team pulled ahead in the third and fourth quarters to defeat the Owls of Keene State by a score of 73-58 Wednesday evening inside the Lancer Gymnasium.

THE BASICS

January 3, 2018

Lancer Gymnasium

Score: Worcester State 73, Keene State 58

Records: Worcester State (6-5) | Keene State (2-10)

1^ST QUARTER

Keene State came out to a 9-0 run following a good free throw shot from Worcester State's Britt Herring (West Brookfield, Mass.). The Lancers responded with seven points of their own to make it a 1-point game with 4:27 to go in the first. Both teams were scoreless in the next two minutes until Keene's Emily McPadden (Tyngsborough, Mass.) made a layup to give the visitors a 3-point lead. On the next possession, Worcester got within one again on a Kate Surprenant (Pelham, N.H.) jumper. Keene State ended the frame with a 5-2 run sparked by a McPadden triple to go into the second with a 16-12 score.

2^ND QUARTER

McPadden drained another three to start the second quarter and give the Owls a 7-point advantage. It wasn't until five minutes in that Worcester State was able to close the gap and took their first lead since the first quarter succeeding a Sam Maglione (Lancaster, Mass.) triple and an and-one from Herring. The Owls knotted the score at 21-21 moments later on a good free throw, but Maglione made another triple to give the Blue and Gold a 3-point lead. Worcester State maintained the lead until Lilly Shlimon (Pelham, N.H.) put the Owls on top with an and-one with 1:12 remaining in the quarter. Though, Worcester State would see a 31-28 lead heading into the break as Maglione made her third triple of the game, and Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) made a layup with 10 seconds to go.

3^RD QUARTER

The Lancers came out of the locker room strong as they scored 11 consecutive points to gain a 14-point advantage. Keene State got within 10 three times before they were able to knock the Lancers' lead down to six at the end of the quarter, ending it with a 5-0 run on buckets from Shlimon and Jasmin Mitchell (Meriden, Conn.). 

4^TH QUARTER

Worcester State did not allow the Owls to get within six in the final quarter and outscored the visitors 24-15. The Lancers saw three 3-pointers from Cate Blatchford (Wenham, Mass.), Hackett, and Maglione in the final five minutes to earn the home victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Keene State's McPadden led all scoring with 22 points, including four triples.
• Shlimon had 18 points and came two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight.
• Worcester State's scoring was led by Herring who had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. She went 6-for-6 (100%) from the charity stripe and had three blocks on the night.
• Kaitlin Berkel (Waterford, Conn.) recorded 15 points while rookie Maglione posted 14, going 4-for-5 (80%) from 3-point range.
• Hackett also registered double digits for the Lancers with 11 points.
• Surprenant logged a game-high eight assists and added in nine points for the Blue and Gold.
• Worcester State shot 45.9% (28-61) from the floor, while Keene State stood at 34.7% (17-49).
• The Lancers also held the advantage in 3-point shooting at 42.9% (9-21).
• Worcester State outrebounded Keene State 42-28.
• The game saw three ties and four lead changes.

UP NEXT

Worcester State opens up MASCAC play on Saturday (Jan. 6), hosting Salem State in a 1 p.m. game inside the Lancer Gymnasium. Keene State travels to Rhode Island College on the same date for a Little East Conference (LEC) tilt, also starting at 1 p.m.

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