WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WINS EIGHTH STRAIGHT, DEFEATS
MSU, 78-55
UNION, N.J. (1/20/07) - Sophomore Melissa Beyruti (Union City,
N.J.) led all players with 17 points as the Kean University women's
basketball team defeated New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)
rival Montclair State University, 78-55, Saturday afternoon at
Harwood Arena.
Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) had 14 points and nine rebounds
off the bench for Kean (16-1, 6-0 NJAC), currently ranked #21 by
D3hoops.com and #23 by USA Today ESPN Top 25. Sophomore Meghan
Kelley (Newtown, Conn.) led the Red Hawks (8-8, 4-2 NJAC) with 11
points in the loss.
Both teams struggled out of the gate before MSU picked up their
first basket of the contest on a jumper by Cynthia Washington
(Villas, N.J.) at 18:12. Just over two minutes later the Cougars
grabbed the lead on a jumper by Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) and
never trailed again in the contest. Kean then used a 9-0 run later
in the half to widen the margin to 16 as Cardiss Jackman
(Tobyhanna, Pa.) netted five straight points followed by
back-to-back buckets by Kimberly Smith (Burlington, N.J.) and Chi
Clark (Maplewood, N.J.). The run gave the Cougars a 27-11 advantage
with under five minutes to play in the half. The Red Hawks rallied
and brought the deficit back into single digits in the final minute
and 18 seconds of the half. Janelle Biamonte (Secaucus, N.J.)
initiated the rally with a trey followed by two free-throw shots
from Marianne McGovern (Fair Lawn, N.J.). Kean headed in the locker
room at halftime with a 30-21 lead.
Jackman led the Cougars with nine points off the bench while
Clark added six points and five rebounds. Juniors Jessica
Garrabrant (Denville, N.J.) and Jessica Horan (West Haverstraw,
N.Y.) each had four points for the Red Hawks at the break.
Kean then controlled the second half with a double-digit lead
throughout. Beyruti recorded all her points in the half while
Jackson provided an added spark with six points, 10 assists and
seven rebounds.
Jackman finished with 13 points for the Cougars as part of five
players in double-digits. Smith ended the afternoon with 11 points
and seven rebounds while Jackson registered a double-double 10
points and 12 assists while also adding eight rebounds.
Garrabrant had a double-double 10 points and 11 rebounds for
MSU, who shot just 32% in the game.
Kean will remain at home and continue conference play as they
take on Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday, January 24, beginning at 6
p.m.
