Triano Knocks Down Game-Winner in 74-72 Win Over TCNJ

UNION, N.J. (1/29/09) - Junior guard Olivia Triano (Keyport, N.J.) knocked down a three-pointer from the corner with just 3.3 seconds remaining on the clock to lift the Kean University women's basketball team to a 74-72 victory over The College of New Jersey in a pivotal New Jersey Athletic Conference South Division match-up on Thursday evening. 

Trailing 72-71 after TCNJ senior center Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, N.J.) hit 1-of-2 free throws with 12 seconds remaining, Triano took the pass from senior guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) in the right corner and knocked down the game-winner after just entering the game prior to the free throws.

The #19/21 Cougars (16-3, 8-0 NJAC) won their seventh straight game, while also snapping the 11-game winning streak by the Lions (14-4, 6-2 NJAC).  Junior guard Danielle Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Klimowicz had game-highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds for the double-double.

In the game, Kean and TCNJ also paid respects to North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach Kay Yow, who lost her courageous 20-year battle with breast cancer this past weekend, as the Cougars wore pink uniforms and both coaching staffs wore upside pink ribbons in Yow's memory.

In a game of runs, TCNJ had erased a nine-point Cougar lead with less than five minutes remaining, scoring nine unanswered to force a 67-67 tie with just 2:01 left on the clock.  On the ensuing possessions, Jackson (pictured left) and Klimowicz traded baskets and each made two free throws before Klimowicz went to the line with 12 seconds left and made 1-of-2 for the 72-71 advantage. 

In the first half, the Lions took an eight point lead into halftime, as Klimowicz nearly had a double-double with 12 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals and Gregorek added 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor off the bench.

After TCNJ scored the first six points of the game, the Cougars answered with 12 unanswered points as Jackson scored half of the points in the run.  The Cougars eventually built a 23-11 lead fueled by six points by junior Danielle Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) before TCNC closed the half on a 16-2 run to take the 42-34 lead at the break. 

For the Cougars, Brown finished with 10 first-half points, while Jackson and junior guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) each had eight points in the first half. 

TCNJ scored the first basket of the second-half and would eventually lead by 11 points at 48-37 less than three minutes into the half, before Kean went on a 10-1 run to pull within 49-47 on a three-pointer by junior guard Alysha Taylor (Galloway, N.J.). 

Jackson put the Cougars back on top, hitting a pair of free throws for the 52-51 lead midway through the half and Kean extended the margin out to 67-58 with just 4:52 left in the game.  

The Cougars shot a blistering 95.2 percent from the foul line, hitting 20-of-21 free throws, while TCNJ went to the line nine fewer times, hitting 9-of-12. 

Taylor (pictured right) added 16 points and five steals, while Jackson had 14 points and eight assists and Jackman chipped in with 14 points.

Gregorek scored 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while senior guard Lisa Koch (Oak Ridge, N.J.) had a game-high nine assists for the Lions.

The Cougars square off with NJAC North Division leader William Paterson University on Saturday, January 31, in a battle of unbeaten divisional leaders.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.