DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (12/30/11) – The Kean University women's basketball team used a late 5-0 run to pull away from Vassar College for a 69-65 win at the Land of Magic Classic on Friday evening.

Junior Naimah Clemons scored a game-high 28 points for the Cougars (11-2), while Kristyn Tempora had a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds for Vassar (6-2). 

In a game that featured 11 lead changes and 10 ties, Vassar took an early 18-11 lead following back-to-back lay-ups by Tempora midway through the first half.  Kean tied the game at 20-20, as Clemons capped a 9-2 run with a lay-up with 5:25 remaining and the Cougars would close the half with a 6-2 run to take a 33-30 lead at halftime.

Clemons led the Cougars with 11 points and three assists in the first half, while Tempora had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Vassar.

After Kean scored four of the first six points of the second half, Vassar scored eight unanswered points to take a 40-37 lead following a pair of free throws by Brittany Parks.  Kean regained the lead with four straight points and would build a four-point at 50-46 on a jumper by junior Brittanie Payne midway through the second half. 

The Brewers would regain the lead one final time at 53-52 on a jumper by Colleen O'Connell with 7:17 remaining, before Clemons gave Kean the lead for good on the Cougars' next trip down the floor with a pair of foul shots.  Kean would scored five straight points late in the game to take a 67-60 lead en-route to the five-point victory.

Senior guard Noel Mathis finished with 10 rebounds, seven points, six assists and six steals, while junior Kyanne Sager (pictured left) added 12 points and five rebounds.  Reserve Erika Smith came off the bench to record 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

O'Connell finished with 14 points and five rebounds for Vassar.

Kean returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Wednesday, January 4, when the Cougars travel to Rowan University.