Women's Hoops Advances in NJAC Playoffs

UNION, N.J. (2/21/09) - Senior guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) (pictured right) had 14 point and seven assists to lead the Kean University women's basketball team to a 68-33 victory over Rutgers-Newark in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore forward Tiffany Patrick (Piscataway, N.J.) added 13 points, six rebounds and five steals for the NJAC South Division second-seeded Cougars (20-6), who advance to play the top seed of the NJAC North Division, Montclair State University, on Wednesday, February 25.

For Rutgers-Newark (11-15), senior guard Bimpe Fageyinbo (Morris Plains, N.J.) led the team with 12 points and seven rebounds to close out the season.

Kean led 19-4 midway through the first half and held the Scarlet Raiders to just 2-of-26 shooting (7.7 percent) in the opening half to take a 34-10 lead at the break.  The Cougars, who converted 14-of-23 shots from the floor (60.9 percent), were led by Patrick (pictured left) who had 10 points and two steals in the opening half.  Fageyinbo led the Scarlet Raiders with seven points and five rebounds. 

In the second half, Kean led by as many as 39 points on several occasions en-route to the 35-point victory.

Junior Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) finished with 12 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the floor, while junior guard Olivia Triano (Keyport, N.J.) knocked down three three-pointers to finish with nine points off the bench.

For the Scarlet Raiders, junior Courtney Vacca (Wayne, N.J.) had nine points and six rebounds.

Kean wins at least 20 games for the third straight season as the Cougars advance to the second round of the NJAC playoffs as back-to-back conference champions.