#19 Scranton Holds Off #24 Kean, 61-59

UNION, N.J. (2/11/09) - The Kean University women's basketball team nearly erased an eight point deficit in the final two minutes, however University of Scranton held on for the 61-59 victory over the host Cougars in a battle of nationally ranked teams on Wednesday evening. 

In a make-up from a snowed out game in December and a rematch of the Days Inn Tournament Championship Game at Gettysburg College in January, the #24 Cougars scored the final six points of the game and had a chance to tie in the final seconds before falling to the #19 Lady Royals for the second time this season.

Sophomore guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J.) led Scranton with a game-high 20 points and five steals, while sophomore forward Tiffany Patrick (Piscataway, N.J.) had 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals for Kean.

Trailing 61-53 with 2:07 remaining, senior guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) trimmed the deficit to six points following a lay-up.  The Lady Royals missed a jumper and turned the ball over following an offensive rebound on their ensuing possession and Patrick (pictured right) pulled Kean to within four points after an offensive rebound and put-back with just 30 seconds left.

After the Cougars immediately fouled, Scranton missed the front-end of a one-and-one and Patrick followed with a lay-up to pull within 61-59 with 23 seconds remaining.  The Cougars had a chance to tie or win with the final possession after Scranton missed another front-end of a one-and-one, however Kean was unable to convert one of their three final shots to send the game into overtime. 

The Royals led throughout much of the first half, building a six-point lead at 14-6 on a three-pointer by Kopecki with 11:11 remaining in the half.  The Cougars tied the game at 19-19 when junior guard Alysha Taylor (Absegami, N.J.) connected from long range three minutes later, however Scranton answered with five straight points to regain the lead and the Royals would take a 32-29 lead into halftime.  Kopecki had 11 points and senior center Molly Klusek (Philadelphia, Pa.) added 10 points and three blocks in the first half, while Brown scored eight points for the Cougars. 

In the second-half, the Cougars tied the game and took their first lead since the early minutes of the game on a lay-up by Jackson just 3:34 into the half.  Kean extended the lead to five points (41-36) on a pair of free throws by sophomore Angelica Bermudez (Belleville, N.J.) with 13:53 left, however the Lady Royals followed with a 16-3 run to regain the lead for good and take a 52-44 lead with 7:16 remaining.

Kean junior guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) answered with a three-pointer, however the Lady Royals would push the lead back out to eight points two more times before Kean's closing run fell short.

For the Cougars, Jackson (pictured left) finished with 15 points, four assists and four steals, while junior forward Danielle Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

In the victory for Scranton, Klusek finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks, while junior guard Ryan Mooney (Spring City, Pa.) had a game-high six assists and six rebounds. 

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, February 14, when they host Rutgers-Camden in New Jersey Athletic Conference action.  Kean is encouraging all fans to wear pink to the game in recognition of breast cancer awareness as part of Kean Blue Thinks Pink.  Tip-off time is set for 1 p.m.