Box Score | RPI Fanshop

TROY, N.Y. - Lydia Vital scored 20 points and Emily McPadden added 17 to lead the Keene State College women's basketball team to a 72-65 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in a non-league game at East Campus Arena. 

The Owls, who improve to 3-2, jumped out to a 20-8 lead after the first quarter, despite falling behind 4-0 in the first 3:18. Sandi Purcell (Hudson, NH / Alvirne) made a three-point shot to pull Keene State within one point (4-3) and the visitors held a 20-5 lead until RPI (3-4) hit a three-pointer - it's first field goal of the game - at the first quarter buzzer. Vital (Cambridge, MA / Worcester Academy), a sophomore guard, and McPadden (Tyngsborough, MA / Tyngsborough), also a sophomore guard, both had five points in the frame for the Owls, who made 6 of 16 shots, including four from behind the arc. The Engineers were 1 of 6.

The difference remained double digits until three minutes into the second quarter when RPI freshman Ines Ortea (Madrid, Spain / Fillmore Central) scored on a layup to cut the deficit to nine points, 22-13. The teams continued to trade baskets for the next few minutes before Rensselaer pulled to within six points, 26-20, on a layup from LaKissa Martin (Las Vegas, NV / Rancho). Keene State followed with a 6-2 run, but RPI scored five of the final seven points and trailed by seven, 34-27, at halftime. 

Rensselaer made it a two-point game, 49-47, by the end of the third quarter by making 45% (9 of 20) of its shots while holding the Owls to 37.5% (6 of 16) shooting. Martin had six points in the quarter, while Sam Krumbhaar (Glen Burnie, MD / North County) had five, including a three point basket that put RPI ahead, 35-34, with 6:21 left. There was one lead change and three tie scores for the remainder of the quarter. 

The Engineers scored the first four points of the fourth to again take the lead, but Keene State tallied the next eight , including three point shots by Purcell and McPadden, for a 57-51 lead three minutes in. RPI got to within two points on two ocassions, but the Owls went on a 13-3 run down the stretch, including 8 of 8 from the free throw line by Vital, to hold off Rensselaer.

Vital was 10 of 14 from the free throw line and 4 of 10 from the field for her game-high 20 points. She also had six rebounds, five assists, a block and a steal. McPadden added a rebound and an assist for Keene State, which forced 24 turnovers, while commiting 21. Senior Amanda Petrow (Methuen, MA / Methuen) had 10 rebounds and four points before fouling out.

RPI was led by junior Shaina Iton (Peekskill, NY / Peekskill), who had a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. She also blocked two shots and had a steal. Martin finished with 14 points and four rebounds, Krumbhaar had 12 points and Ortea scored 11 with five rebounds. 

The Engineers return to the court on Thursday when they host Middlebury College at 6pm. Keene State plays again on Friday at 8pm against Skidmore College as part of a tournament at Wesleyan College.