BEYRUTI LIFTS KEAN PAST TCNJ, 68-59

UNION, N.J. (1/31/07) - Sophomore Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) led all players with 27 points as the Kean University women's basketball team defeated The College of New Jersey, 68-59, Wednesday evening at Harwood Arena.

Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, N.J.) led the Lions (8-12, 3-6 NJAC) with 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

The College of New Jersey opened up the scoring and held on to a slim advantage for the first 11 minutes of action. The Cougars (18-2, 8-1 NJAC) battled back and took their first lead of the game at 8:25 as Beyruti drilled a three-pointer to put the score at 15-14. That lead was short lived however, as the Lions went on a 7-0 run sparked by back-to-back layups by Klimowicz. TCNJ headed into the locker room with a slim 28-27 lead.

Beyruti led the way in the first half with 15 points, including 4 treys for the Cougars. Klimowicz recorded 10 first half points, while Breanne Depken (Oradell, N.J.) and Lisa Koch (Oak Ridge, N.J.) each chipped in with four for the Lions.

Kean regained the lead for good with 10:17 remaining in the second half as freshman Alysha Taylor (Galloway, N.J.) nailed a three-pointer to give the Cougars a 45-43 advantage. That would spark a 9-1 run with buckets from Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) and Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.), a trey by Beyruti and two free-throws by Kim Smith (Burlington, N.J.). That run gave Kean a 10 point advantage, 56-46, with just under four minutes remaining, their largest lead of the half.

Jackson finished the game with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Cougars while Cooper recorded seven points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Freshman Nicole Diaz (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.) recorded eight points for the Lions.

Kean will head to the road as they take on Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, January 31, beginning at 5:30 p.m.