Women's Hoops Handle
Rutgers-Newark, 59-41
NEWARK, N.J. (12/6/08) - Sophomore
Angelica Bermudez (Belleville, N.J.) scored 15
points and had a career-high 17 rebounds to lead the Kean
University women's basketball team to a 59-41 victory over host
Rutgers-Newark in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday
evening.
Junior Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) (pictured
left) and senior Melissa Beyruti (Union City,
N.J.) added 15 points and 14 points, respectively, for the
third-ranked Cougars (6-0, 2-0 NJAC).
For the Scarlet Raiders (2-5, 1-1 NJAC), senior guard
Youngor Kehleay (Eatontown, N.J.) scored a team-high 13
points.
In the opening half, the host Scarlet Raiders opened the game
with an 8-1 run and extended the lead to 11-3 with 14:42 remaining
in the half. The Cougars answered, outscoring Rutgers-Newark
18-1 over the next eight minutes to take a 21-12 advantage with
just over seven minutes left in the opening half.
The Cougars took a 29-21 lead at intermission, as
Bermudez had recorded a double-double by halftime with 11
points and 10 rebounds. Jackman chipped in with 10 points,
while rookie Jared Tactuk (Wayne, N.J.) led Rutgers-Newark
with eight points.
Beyruti sparked a 10-2 run in the second half with a triple, as
the 
Cougars extended the lead to 18 at 42-24 with just over 11 minutes
remaining. Kean led by as many as 22 points on a pair of
occasions en-route to the 18-point victory.
Bermudez (pictured right) added three assists and two blocks, as
she went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Beyruti knocked
down four three-pointers in the victory.
Tactuk finished with 10 points and a career-high five steals,
while junior Courtney Vacca (Wayne, N.J.) grabbed a
team-high nine rebounds.
The Cougars face a pair of nationally ranked teams in
non-conference action next week, as they first take on
eighth-ranked Messiah College at home on Wednesday, December 10,
before traveling to 19th-ranked Mary Washington College
on Saturday, December 13.
