Kean Wins 12th Straight with 76-63 Victory Over MSU

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (01/26/08) - The No.7/8 Kean University women's basketball team placed all five starters in double-figures en-route to a 76-63 victory over host Montclair State University in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) led all scorers with 18 points and senior center Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) recorded her 50^th career double-double and moved into 10^th place in NCAA Division III career rebounds, as the Cougars (17-1, 5-1 NJAC) won their 12^th straight game. 

For the Red Hawks (10-7. 3-3 NJAC), sophomore forward Catherine Christino (Farmingdale, N.J.) scored a team-high 15 points.

In the opening half, the Cougars built a 12-point lead on two separate occasions, the second time on a lay-up by sophomore Danielle Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) with 25 seconds left to take a 38-26 lead into halftime.  In a sloppy half that had a combined 35 turnovers, the Cougars knocked down exactly half of their shots (14-of-28) and all eight of their free throws, while limiting MSU to just 35.7 percent shooting (10-of-28). 

Jackman led the Cougars with 11 first-half points, while junior guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) added seven points in just nine minutes of action.  For the Red Hawks, Christino and junior guard Amy Bonk (Edison, N.J.) each had eight points in the opening half.  

The Cougars extended the lead to 19 points (50-31) after opening the second half on a 12-5 run less than four minutes into the half.  The Red Hawks responded with 11 unanswered points to cut the deficit to single digits (50-42) on a lay-up by sophomore guard Kisandra Ayanbeku (Burlington, Mass.) with 12:59 remaining. 

Kean pushed the lead back out to 18 points on a lay-up by Jackman with just under seven minutes left and Montclair would pull no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

Cooper recorded her 18^th career game with at least 20 rebounds, while also notching her 13^th double-double of the season.  Her 1,343 career rebounds moved her into the top 10 in NCAA Division III career rebounds and are just 34 rebounds shy of moving into the top five all-time.

Junior guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) finished with 13 points and five assists, while freshman forward Tiffany Patrick (Piscataway, N.J.) added 11 points and six rebounds.  Beyruti chipped in with 11 points to round out the Cougar starters.  

For Montclair State, senior guard Jessica Garrabrant (Denville, N.J.) finished with 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Ayanbeku added nine points.

Kean returns to NJAC action on Wednesday, January 30, when the Cougars host Rowan University in a South Division match-up at 6 p.m.