WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS TWO AT KEENE STATE TOURNEY, Mustangs to host Westfield State this Tuesday

The Mount Ida College Women’s Basketball team lost both games this past weekend in the Keene State College 12th Annual PC Connection Tip-Off Tournament in Keene, NH Friday and Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs dropped to the Owls of Keene State by a score of 94-45 and headed to the Consolation game against Castleton State. They would lose on day two on a nail biter, 58-59 making them 0-2 to start the season.

Round one of the tournament would prove to be a tough one for the Mustangs losing to the Keene State Owls by 49 points. Junior guard Crystal Burgess (Lowell, MA/N. Essex) led Mount Ida with 11 points. Freshman guard Brienna Holiday (Dummerston, VT/Lamiolle) finished with nine points and five rebounds. They would head into day two to play Castleton State.

In the consolation game, junior guard Jessica Banks (Milford, Conn.) hit a couple of free throws in the closing seconds as Castleton State hung on for a 59-58 win over Mount Ida.

Sophomore forward Cherie Parisi (South Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) scored consecutive baskets to get Mount Ida within two (56-54) with 2:15 to play. With 30 seconds to go, senior forwardLauren Hickey (Enosburg Falls, VT/Richford) missed a drive for the Mustangs. Banks hit one of two free throws to make it 57-54 with 21 seconds to play.

Holiday hit a lay-up to close the gap to 57-56 with eight seconds on the clock. Banks was fouled and hit both attempts to put the Spartans up 59-56 with 7.2 seconds to go. Holiday hit another lay-up to make it 59-58. Castleton in bounded the ball and ran out the clock to preserve the win.

Banks had 16 points and seven rebounds and junior guard Mary Nienow (Middlebury, Vt.) added 12 points for Castleton State (1-1). Parisi had 16 points and eight rebounds and Holiday finished with 15 points for Mount Ida (0-2).

The Mustangs would head home 0-2 to start the season and will host Westfield State College this Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.