KEAN CLAIMS 2006-07 NJAC CHAMPIONSHIP, ADVANCE
TO NCAA TOURNAMENT
WAYNE, N.J. (2/24/07) - WAYNE, N.J. (2/24/07) - In dramatic
fashion, the Kean University women's basketball claimed the 2006-07
New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship, defeating host
William Paterson University, 62-59. With the win the Cougars earn
the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Cougars (24-3) controlled most of the game before the
Pioneers started chipping away and within the final minutes it
became a see-saw battle. With just 6 seconds left in the contest,
junior Pioneer Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, N.J.) tied the game
at 59 with a three-pointer. Sophomore Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.)
then drove the ball down the court passing it off to fellow
sophomore Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) who drilled a trey of
her own with time expiring to send the Cougars and their fans into
a frenzy and a well deserved on-court celebration.
The Cougars led by 10 (57-47) with 3:27 to play, but the
Pioneers were able to mount steam and mount a rally to eventually
tie the score. Senior Luci Custis (Roselle, N.J.) converted a
three-point play at the 2:07 mark followed by a pair of free throws
by freshman Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J),to pull the Pioneers
within five at 57-52 (1:43). Senior Melissa Moore's (East Orange,
N.J.) putback with 59.8 seconds on the clock made the score 57-54
and Haledjian came away with a steal on the ensuing inbounds play,
setting up a three-point attempt by junior Michelle Pellichero
(Milltown, N.J.). Her shot would not fall, but Custis tracked down
the rebound and converted the follow the 39.1 seconds left (57-56).
Junior Lori Custis (Roselle, N.J.) was then whistled for her fifth
foul on the other end of the court, and senior Ebony Allen (Camden,
N.J.) was able to convert both free throws to again make it a
three-point contest (59-56) with just over 16 seconds remaining.
Pellichero took control of the ball at the top of the key for the
Pioneers and dribbled to her right on the perimeter, looking for
space to get off a shot. Her leaning attempt found the bottom of
the net, knotting the score at 59-59 with 6.3 seconds remaining.
Jackson then took the inbounds pass and raced down the floor,
finding Beyruti on the right wing. Several Pioneer defenders had
Beyruti surrounded, but the NJAC's leading scorer found a way to
launch a shot, and it fell through the rim as time expired to give
the Cougars their 11th conference title (1983-91, 2002).
Both sides started the contest a bit over-eager, as three of
first five possessions were ended by offensive charges. Six ties
and six more lead changes marked the game's first 13:32, but a 9-2
Kean burst gave the Cougars control and a seven-point lead (25-18,
4:10). Pellichero's three-pointer from behind a screen briefly cut
that advantage to four (27-23, 1:46), but Kean was able to take a
six-point advantage into locker room, 29-23, thanks to a fast-break
layup by Colby Greenlee (Stoudsburg, Pa.) in the final 30 seconds.
Eight different players were saddled with two fouls apiece at the
break, including two starters for the Pioneers and three for the
Cougars.
A 10-3 spurt by William Paterson early in the second half cut
the lead to three, 36-33, and the Pioneers eventually pulled even
at 42-42 with 9:40 to play. Freshman Elisa Brown (Norwalk, Conn.)
was called for a foul on a Beyruti three-point attempt, and her
three free throws ignited a 12-2 burst for the Cougars.
Allen posted 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars, while
Beyruti scored 19. Junior Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) had 11
rebounds in the win.Luci Custis led the Pioneers with 20 points,
adding seven rebounds.
Pellichero scored 17 points, making five of 10 three-point
attempts.
Kean will now await the announcement of the NCAA Division III
Bracket which will be released on Monday, February 26th.
