Beyruti Career High Lifts Kean Past Bloodhounds, 81-68

NEW YORK (1/8/07) - Sophomore guard Melissa Beyrtui (Union City, N.J.) scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Kean University women's basketball team to an 81-68 victory over John Jay College on Monday evening.

Beyruti hit seven three-pointers, one shy of the program record, and added six rebounds, five steals and four assists for the Cougars (13-1). Melissa Escalara paced the Bloodhouds (9-5) with 21 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

The Cougars used a 10-0 run midway through the first half to turn a one-point deficit into a 27-18 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the opening half. Beyruti tallied 16 points and four three-pointers in the first half, as the Cougars took a 37-25 lead into halftime.

In the second-half, Kean led by double-figures throughout most of the half and extended its lead to as many as 18 points on a pair of occasions in cruising to 13-point victory.

For the Cougars, sophomore guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) nearly had her second-straight double-double, as she added 16 points and nine assists. Junior forward Kim Smith (Burlington, N.J.) also finished in double-figures for Kean, as she had 10 points and seven rebounds, including six offensive boards.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, January 13, when they resume New Jersey Athletic Conference action with a home doubleheader against Richard Stockton College. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.