Athletics
Women's Basketball
February 2, 2008
Keller Lifts Women's Basketball To 73-66 Win Versus Saint Rose
COLCHESTER, Vt. ? The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team (12-8, 8-7 Northeast-10 Conference) raced out to a 16-point halftime lead and held off The College of Saint Rose, 73-66, in league action on Saturday at the Ross Sports Center.
For the Purple Knights, sophomore Alexis Keller (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) netted a career-high 20 points, hitting 6-of-12 shots from the field, and added six rebounds and six assists. Classmate Michelle Otey (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) added 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor, and senior Amy Pitchers (Oxford Mills, Ontario/North Grenville District) recorded 12 points and a pair of blocks. Saint Michael's forced 23 Saint Rose turnovers, and held Saint Rose to just 33 percent shooting from the field.
For Saint Rose (9-11, 6-10 NE-10), senior Emily Gottstein (Albany, N.Y.) poured in a game-high 29 points and added eight rebounds. Sophomore Elizabeth Buckley (East Lyme, Conn.) added 14 points.
Saint Michael's took control early, as the Purple Knights netted the game's first four points and never relinquished the lead. The Purple Knights held a 33-14 lead late in the first half before settling on a 16-point margin at intermission, as the Golden Knights made just 5-of-25 shots from the field in the first half.
Saint Rose made a run in the second half, as the visitors trimmed their deficit to five points, 68-63, with less than two minutes to play. However, a Keller jumper pushed the lead up to seven points, and two Keller free throws in the final minute helped seal the victory for the Purple Knights.
Saint Michael's returns to action on Tuesday with a 5:30 p.m. contest at conference-rival Bentley College. Saint Rose hosts Southern New Hampshire University on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
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