Providence, R.I.--Junior guard Maggie McKitchen (Seekonk, Mass.) registered a career-high 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench as No. 2-seeded Rhode Island College defeated No. 3-seeded Keene State, 73-54, in the semifinal round of the 2026 Little East Conference Championship at The Murray Center on Wednesday evening.
 
THE BASICS
No. 2 Rhode Island College 73, No. 3 Keene State 54
Rhode Island College (21-5) 
Keene State (18-9)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Six quick points from the Anchorwomen to open the game set the tone for the whole first quarter as a pair of threes by McKitchen put the hosts ahead, 21-10, heading into the second.
 
• Sophomore guard Naima Bleou (Worcester, Mass.) posted eight points with two triples in the second frame, with one of her treys beating the clock to end the half.
 
• The Owls showed no sign of life as the third quarter was dominated by the Anchorwomen as they outshined the visitors on the glass, 17-8, in just the third stanza alone.
 
• RIC made no mistake in the fourth quarter, silencing the championship hopes for the Owls as the hosts extended their win-streak to 11 consecutive games.
 
• Freshman forward Eva Monahan (Woodstock, Conn.) poured in 14 points and corralled 10 boards for her eighth double-double of the season.
 
• Bleou and junior guard Meagan Schuermann (Cooperstown, N.Y.) both tallied double figures with 11 and 10 respectively.
 
• This is the Anchorwomen's sixth LEC Championship finals appearance in the last seven years.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, No. 2-seeded Rhode Island College will travel to No. 1-seeded Southern Maine for the 2026 Little East Women's Basketball Championship Final on Sunday, March 1 (1 p.m.).