Amherst, Mass. (1/17/12) - #1 Amherst College avenged their only loss of last season by defeating the visiting Kean University women's basketball team, 81-58, Tuesday evening in non-conference action.

Amherst, the defending national champions, has now won 34 consecutive matches dating back to their first matchup with Kean last season.  The Lord Jeffs (15-0) also kept their 58 game home winning streak alive with tonight's win.

The Cougars (15-3) were led by senior Noel Mathis who recorded 17 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

Kean started off the game with a 4-0 lead thanks to jumpers by Mathis and Danielle McFadden, but Amherst responded with a free throw and bucket to cut that lead to one and took the lead for good on a trey with 17:26 to go in the first half.  The Jeffs were only able to push that lead to 11 in the opening stanza, heading into the break with a 34-23 advantage.  Mathis scored 10 of her points in the opening half.

Amherst then controlled the second half of play, extending their lead to as many as 24 in the final 20 minutes of action.

McFadden finished with 16 points as well as nine rebounds and three steals while junior Naimah Clemons added seven points and six rebounds.

Kean returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday when they host Rutgers-Newark at 1 p.m.