Keene, N.H.--Senior guard Sophia Guerrier (Waltham, Mass.) scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Rhode Island College women's basketball team past Keene State, 63-53, in the regular season finale played at Spaulding Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 63, Keene State 53
Rhode Island College (9-0, 7-0 LEC)
Keene State (2-4, 2-4 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Anchorwomen will be the top seed and secured homecourt advantage throughout the upcoming 2021 Little East Women's Basketball Championship. No. 1-seeded RIC will host No. 4-seeded Plymouth State on Wednesday, March 3 (6:30 p.m.).
 
• RIC continues the best start to a season in program history with a 9-0 mark, surpassing the previous effort of 7-0.
 
• Strong shooting from the opening tip for the Anchorwomen helped them build an early lead right out of the gate.
 
• Guerrier knocked down a pair of treys to kick start the Anchorwomen offense and senior guard Brooke Young (West Warwick, R.I.) drained a jumper as part of a 10-0 run to start the game.
 
• Freshman forward Essence McClain (Bronx, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer to give the Anchorwomen their largest lead of the quarter (15), 20-5, with just under 3:00 to play in the first frame.
 
• RIC led, 22-9, after the first quarter.
 
• The strong shooting continued for the Anchorwomen to begin the second quarter as they increased their advantage to a 22-point, 31-9, lead.
 
• The Anchorwomen were stout on defense throughout the opening 20 minutes, causing 13 Owl turnovers. 
 
• RIC took a commanding, 42-19, lead into the halftime intermission.
 
• The Anchorwomen continued to roll in the third quarter and led 54-35, going into the final stanza.
 
• The Anchorwomen offense stalled in the fourth quarter as the Owls cut the visitor's lead down to as little as eight, 59-51, before they were able to close the door on the game and win by 10, 63-53.
 
• Young finished the day with nine points and dished out five assists. McClain chipped in with eight points.
 
• Junior guard Jenny Freedman (North Hampton, N.H.) led the hosts with 14 points, three rebounds and three assists.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• RIC shot 47 percent (21-for-45) from the field, 59 percent (10-for-17) from beyond the three-point arc and 69 percent (11-for-16) from the foul line.
 
• KSC shot 39 percent (19-for-49) from the field, 21 percent (3-for-14) from three-point range and 71 percent (12-for-17) from the foul line.
 
• RIC held the advantage on the glass, 25-19, and handed out seven more assists (14; 7) than the Owls.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Plymouth State on Wednesday, March 3 (6:30 p.m.) in the semifinals of the 2021 Little East Women's Basketball Championship.