Wrapping Up the 2011-12 Season

The Kean University women’s basketball team captured the New Jersey Athletic Conference South Division title and made the program’s 15^th appearance in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament, as the Cougars posted a 22-6 overall record and a 12-1 mark in the NJAC under interim head coach Karima McKenzie.

Junior guard Naimah Clemons led the team and ranked third in the country in scoring (23.1 points per game) and also ranked second in the NJAC in steals (3.5), third in field goal percentage (.543) and sixth in assists (3.3).  In 2011-12, Clemons scored 30 or more points in six games and became the sixth player in the last six seasons to earn WBCA Honorable Mention All-American honors.

Seniors Danielle McFadden and Brittany Powell concluded their careers as starters, as McFadden started all 26 games she appeared in and led the team with 8.4 rebounds a game, while also scoring 8.4 points per game.  Powell, who battled injuries throughout the year, averaged 10.2 points and was tied for team-high honors with 23 three-pointers.

In the frontcourt, junior Simone Smith averaged 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds a game, while leading the team with 36 blocks. 

Juniors Brittanie Payne and Kyanne Sager were the only two players to appear in all 28 games this season, as Payne had 86 assists and 54 steals to go along with 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds a game.  Sager added 4.8 points and 3.6 rebounds a game for the Cougars. 

WEEKLY and POSTSEASON HONORS

Naimah Clemons – WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, D3hoops.com Atlantic Region Second-Team, NJAC Second-Team, NJAC Player of the Week, ECAC Metro Player of the Week