KEENE, N.H. – The third-seeded Keene State College women's basketball team outscored sixth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University by seven points in the second half to overcome the Warriors' one-point halftime lead in a 60-54 win in the first round of the Little East Conference tournament Wednesday night at Spaulding Gymnasium.

The win is the third this year for Keene (18-8) over Eastern (9-17) and eliminates the Warriors, who lost six of their final seven games this year. Keene advances to Friday's semifinals at second-seeded Rhode Island College.

Eastern's Marissa Nudd (Colchester) played all 40 minutes and led both teams with 21 points and topped Eastern with ten rebounds. Freshman Katelyn Novak (Colchester) returned from injury to score 12 points and grab eight rebounds.

Eastern turned the ball over 26 times and shot just 33.3 percent from the floor.