Kean Falls to TCNJ in Regular Season Finale, 73-61

EWING, N.J. (2/18/09) - In a battle for the New Jersey Athletic Conference South Division top seed and a first round bye in the upcoming NJAC playoffs, the Kean University women's basketball team fell to host The College of New Jersey in the regular season finale, 73-61, on Wednesday evening. 

Senior center Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, N.J.) registered a double-double with 21 points and 18 rebounds for the Lions (21-4, 11-2 NJAC), who capture the NJAC South Division title for the second straight season by virtue of having just one loss against South Division opponents.

For the Cougars (19-6, 11-2 NJAC), juniors Olivia Triano (Keyport, N.J.) and Danielle Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) each finished with 13 points.   Both of the Cougars' NJAC losses were against South Division opponents.  

In the opening half, TCNJ took an 18-9 lead midway through the half and led by as many as 12 points en-route to taking a nine-point lead at halftime at 36-27.  Klimowicz had her double-double by the break with 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lions, while Brown (pictured left) had six points for the Cougars.

Trailing 46-37 with 13:08 remaining, the Cougars scored five straight points as Triano knocked down a three-pointer and Brown converted a lay-up to pull Kean within 46-42 less than a minute later.  However, that was as close as the Cougars would get, as TCNJ responded with a 13-2 run to extend the lead to 15 points at 59-44 with less than eight minutes remaining.

The Cougars hit just 31.9 percent of their shots, connecting on 23-of-72 shots and just 7-of-28 from long range. 

Triano knocked down three three-pointers and added two assists and two steals for the Cougars, while Brown had a team-high four assists and five rebounds.

Kean's leading scorer Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) finished with 11 points, while sophomore forward Tiffany Patrick (Piscataway, N.J.) (pictured right)  had 11 points, six rebounds and three steals. 

For the Lions, senior guard Alyssa Michella (Washington Twp., N.J.) added 15 points, while junior Nicole Diaz (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) added 11 points and five assists.

The Cougars open defense of their NJAC championship on Saturday, February 21, in the opening round of the NJAC playoffs, as Kean hosts Rutgers-Newark, the third seed of the NJAC North Division.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.