COOPER LIFTS COUGARS PAST RICHARD STOCKTON, 68-62

POMONA, N.J. (2-10-07) - Junior center Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) scored 21 points and had 20 rebounds, as the Kean University women's basketball team defeated host Richard Stockton College, 68-62, in a pivotal New Jersey Athletic Conference South Division game on Saturday afternoon.

Cooper hit 8-of-13 shots from the floor as she had at least 20 points and 20 rebounds for the fourth time in her career. The Cougars (20-3, 9-2 NJAC) have now won 20 games in a season for the third time since 2001-02, as they took a two-game lead in the NJAC South Division with two games left to play.

For Richard Stockton (12-11, 8-4), junior guard Michelle Auerbacher (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) came off the bench to score 16 points.

The Cougars controlled most of the first half, and led by as many as seven points (22-15) with 2:09 left in the half on a free throw by sophomore guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.), before Richard Stockton closed the period with nine unanswered points to take a two-point lead into halftime. Osprey forward Jacki Crocker (Washington Twp., N.J.) capped the run with a three-pointer with just two seconds remaining before intermission.

In the second half, Richard Stockton built a four-point lead (29-25) on a three pointer by Auerbacher just 2:30 into the half. With the score tied at 43 apiece with 9:30 left in the game, the Cougars used a 10-1 run over the next 3:31 to take control of the contest. The Cougars extended the lead to 10 points on a layup by Cooper with 4:58 remaining.

A pair of Auerbacher free throws trimmed the Cougar lead to four points with 66 seconds remaining, however the Cougars hit 6-of-8 from the foul line over the final minute to seal the victory.

For the Cougars, senior forward Ebony Allen (Camden, N.J.) came off the bench and hit 7-of-10 field goals to score 14 points, while the NJAC leading scored Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) added 12 points and four assists in the victory. Freshman guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) had 11 points and four assists off the bench, while Jackson hit 7-of-8 from the foul line and added seven assists.

Senior forward Alicia Morris (Easthampton, N.J.) had a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and senior guard Jenna Shenk (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) added 10 points for the Ospreys.

The Cougars return to Harwood Arena for their final regular season home contest on Wednesday, February 14, when they take on Rowan University in a NJAC South Division match-up. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.