By: KJ Cardinal
KEENE, N.H. — A dominant second-quarter surge flipped the game on its head as Keene State battled back from a 12-point deficit to knock off Worcester State, 78–70, on Tuesday night at Spaulding Gymnasium. The Owls improve to 5–2 behind a statement performance from Brynn Rautiola (Rindge, N.H. / Conant).
Keene State struggled early and trailed 24–12 after the opening frame, but once the Owls tightened defensively and got downhill in transition, the momentum shifted sharply. Rautiola powered the turnaround with relentless attacks at the rim and earned 11 trips to the free-throw line, finishing with a game-high 28 points.
KSC exploded for 31 second-quarter points — outscoring Worcester State by 12 in the period — behind timely shooting from Valerie Luizzi, who knocked down three triples and finished with 17 points and six steals.
Ruby Dasaro helped anchor the Owls in the halfcourt, delivering eight rebounds and ten assists while repeatedly breaking pressure and generating quality looks for teammates. On the wings, Sydney Cassidy added six rebounds and steady defense, and Avery Stewart (Langdon, N.H. / Fall Mountain) contributed seven boards and important physicality inside.
Keene State forced 27 Worcester State turnovers and converted them into 31 points — the deciding statistic in a matchup that otherwise stayed tight through the final minutes. Back-to-back fourth-quarter threes helped push the margin out of reach as the Owls closed strong at home.
Check out the full photo gallery of the action by Marc Hoak…
