UNION, N.J. (11/22/11) – Junior guard Naimah Clemons scored 36 points and had nine assists, eight rebounds and five steals to lead the Kean University women's basketball team to a 83-67 victory over FDU-Florham in non-conference action on Tuesday evening.
Clemons (pictured left) hit 15-of-20 shots from the floor, as Kean (3-1) hit 53.2 percent from the floor (33-of-62) and held the Devils (2-2) to just 30.5 percent shooting (25-of-82).
The Cougars built an early 16-9 lead, as Clemons scored nine points in the opening 4:16 of the game. FDU-Florham answered with an 18-5 run to build a 27-21 lead with just under eight minutes remaining. The Devils extended the lead to eight points at 33-20 on a three-pointer by junior guard Tasza Carter with 6:36 left in the half, however the Cougars responded with a 13-2 run over the next five minutes to regain the lead at 35-32 on a lay-up by Clemons with 58 seconds left in the half, and would take a 35-33 lead into the break.
Clemons led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the opening half. Freshman guard Kaya Dayon led the Devils with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in the first half.
Kean opened the second half on a 12-0 run to build a double-digit lead at 47-33 just 3:37 into the half. FDU trimmed the lead back to single-digits on a three-pointer by Carter, however would later follow with eight unanswered points to take a 61-44 lead with 9:35 remaining.
After a lay-up by junior Simone Smith gave Kean its largest lead at 63-45 with 8:40 to go, the Devils would trim the lead back to single-digits on two more occasions. Kean would allow them no closer than eight points before closing out the game for the 16-points victory.
Smith tallied 17 points and eight rebounds for Kean, while senior guard Noel Mathis had nine points, 10 assists, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
For FDU-Florham, Dayon had 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists and sophomore guard Jalessa Lewis added 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Kean faces host Stevens Institute of Technology on Sunday, November 27, at 2 p.m.
