Clark Leads Cougars Past Bates, 80-67

SALEM, Mass. - (12/29/06) The Kean University women's basketball team scored 16 unanswered points early in the second half to break away from Bates College for an 80-67 victory in the opening round of the Salem State College Holiday Classic on Friday afternoon.

Senior forward Chi Clark (Maplewood, N.J.) led the Cougars (9-1) with a career high 22 points and added 11 rebounds, as Kean placed five players in double-figures. For Bates (5-4), sophomore forward Val Beckwith (Woburn, Mass.) led the Bobcats with 17 points.

Leading 47-46 just 3:38 into the second half, the Cougars scored 16 straight points to build the 63-46 advantage with 12:48 left in the contest. Junior forward Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) had six points and three rebounds in the run, while Clark added four points.

Kean would extend their lead to as many as 24 points at 79-55 with just over five minutes remaining on a free throw by freshman forward Danielle Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) en-route to the 13-point victory.

The Cougars took a 39-35 lead at halftime, as sophomore guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) scored 12 of her 14 points in the half, while Clark chipped in with 10 points and eight boards.

In the victory, senior forward Ebony Allen (Camden, N.J.) hit all five of her field goal attempts and both free throws to add 12 points and five rebounds in nine minutes of action. Freshman guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) chipped in with 10 points and two assists, while sophomore guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) dished out five assists and made five steals.

The Cougars face New Jersey Athletic Conference-rival The College of New Jersey in the championship game of the tournament on Saturday, December 30, at 5 p.m.