Women's Hoops Advance in NJAC Playoffs

UNION, N.J. (2/25/08) - The Kean University women's basketball team opened defense of its New Jersey Athletic Conference title, defeating Rutgers-Newark, 73-44, in the opening round of the conference playoffs on Monday evening behind a game-high 19 points from junior guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.).

Senior center Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) recorded her 55^th career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the 12^th-ranked Cougars (23-3) into a semifinal match-up against North Division top seed William Paterson University.

For Rutgers-Newark (19-7), junior guard Youngor Kehleay (Eatontown, N.J.) led the team with 12 points off the bench.

In the first half, Kean limited the Scarlet Raiders to just 16.7 percent shooting (4-of-24), while connecting on more than half of their shots to build a 41-15 lead at halftime.  A 16-0 run midway through the first half extended the Cougar lead to 35-7 following a three-pointer from Beyruti (pictured left) with 5:35 to go in the half.

The Cougars maintained a 20-point cushion throughout the rest of the game and led by as many as 31 points en-route to the 29-point victory.

Sophomore guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) scored 13 points and had three assists, while freshman forward Tiffany Patrick (Piscataway, N.J.) had 12 points, six rebounds, three blocks and three steals in her first postseason action.

Cooper increased her career rebounding total to 1,439 boards, remaining third in NCAA Division III history, while Beyruti knocked down three three-pointers to give her 254 for her career, good for sole possession of 21st place in NCAA Division III program history.

Rutgers-Newark seniors Sabrina Sanchez (Keasbey, N.J.) and Eni Fageyinbo (Morris Plains, N.J.) each added six points, while junior guard Bimpe Fageyinbo (Morris Plains, N.J.) had team-highs of eight rebounds and five steals. 

The Cougars travel to William Paterson on Wednesday, February 27, for the semifinal game in a rematch of last season's championship game.  The Cougars knocked down a game-winning three pointer as time expired to win 72-69 on the Pioneers' home court.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.