COOPER DOUBLE-DOUBLE LIFTS KEAN PAST CAMDEN,
82-72
CAMDEN, N.J. (2/17/07) - Junior center Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro,
NJ/Paulsboro) collected a double-double in the first half on her
way to 27 points and 23 rebounds to power the Kean University
women's basketball team over Rutgers University-Camden, 82-72, in
the final New Jersey Athletic Conference regular-season game for
both teams on Saturday.
The Cougars, who have won four straight games, close the regular
season with a 22-3 record overall and an 11-2 mark in the NJAC. As
the top seed in the NJAC South Division, they will host a
second-round NJAC playoff game Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. against
an opponent to be determined.
Rutgers-Camden closes its season at 8-17 overall and 2-11 in the
NJAC with its sixth straight loss.
After the lead changed hands seven times early in the game, Kean
took the advantage for good, 12-10, on a three-pointer by sophomore
guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, NJ/Union Hill). That shot
enabled Beyruti to tie the program career record of 152 treys set
by Kellie Rice (2000-04). She then added another trey in the second
half to set a new program record at 153 on her way to 17 points.
Leading 16-14, the Cougars rattled off 13 straight points on
their way to a 40-26 halftime lead. At the break, Cooper had 14
points and 13 rebounds, while junior forward Carmen Oyola
(Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) had seven points to lead the Raptors.
On the afternoon the Cougars received 10 points apiece from
junior forward Kimberly Smith (Burlington, NJ/Burlington) and
senior forward Chi Clark (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia).
The Cougars shot 34-for-72 (47.2 percent) from the field, while
the Raptors were 26-for-56 (46.4), but Kean had an overwhelming
56-26 advantage off the boards, led by Cooper. Clark added eight
rebounds for the Cougars.
Kean also received a game-high seven assists from freshman guard
Colby Greenlee (Stroudsburg, PA/Pocono Mountain East), while
freshman guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, PA/Pocono Mountain West)
added a game-high five steals.
For Rutgers-Camden, Oyola and junior guard Imani Hafiz
(Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional) each collected 12 points, while
junior guard Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) added 11
points.
Kean will now play the waiting game to determine their opponent
in the upcoming NJAC Tournament. The Cougars will host the
semifinals on Thursday, February 22nd at 7 p.m. at Harwood Arena.
against the winner of the Montclair State University (#2 Seed North
Division)/The College of New Jersey (#3 Seed South Division) game.
