Box Score

KEENE, N.H. -- Fourth-seeded Keene State College rallied after squandering a seven-point halftime lead to overtake fifth-seeded University of New England for a 58-53 victory in opening-round action of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Championship on Wednesday evening at Spaulding Gymnasium.

The Owls (21-7) advance to play top-seeded Nichols College -- a 66-54 winner over Plymouth State University.  The Nor'easters end their season with a 20-8 record.

Trailing by as many as 13 points in the first half and 34-27 at the break, the Nor'easters rattled off 13 consecutive points to open the second half and take a 40-34 advantage.  Senior Alli Gamache (Dudley, Mass.) made a pair of three-pointers to help fuel the run.

Keene State reclaimed the lead for good when senior guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) buried back-to-back 3's with just over five minutes remaining.

Junior guard Kristen Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) scored a game-high 17 points to pace the Owls.  She made three shots from beyond the arc and grabbed seven rebounds.  Boudreau added 10 points and six steals, while first-year guard Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.) came off the bench to net 10 points.

Gamache tallied a team-high 12 points in her final game for UNE.  She hit four 3-pointers to tie the school single-season record of 82 (Amanda Brown in 2003) and finish second on the career list with 233 (Brown 235).

Sophomore guard Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) had nine points, as did first-year backcourters Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) and Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine).  Senior forward Sara Pelkey (Barre, Vt.) hauled down a game-best 11 boards.

The Nor'easters had difficulties overcoming 24 turnovers and 32.7 percent (16 of 49) shooting from the field.  Keene State also held a 40-34 rebounding advantage.