Newark, N.J. (1/15/14) – Senior Simone Smith netted 12 of her game-high 22 points in the second half as the Kean University women's basketball team pulled away from Rutgers-Newark for a 60-44 NJAC win on Wednesday evening.
After senior Jasmine Daniels hit a free throw to give the Scarlet Raiders (7-7, 3-5 NJAC) their largest lead of the game at 34-27 with just 2:45 gone in the second period, the Cougars (8-7, 5-3 NJAC) closed out the game by outscoring the hosts, 33-10.
Back-to-back three-point jumpers by freshman Aysha Harris (pictured left) followed by a short jumper by Smith helped Kean get separation from the Raiders, expanding the Cougar lead to 54-42 with 4:55 left. Rutgers-Newark never got closer than 10 points down the stretch.
Smith notched a double-double by adding a game-high 14 rebounds while rookie Jaquetta Owens had a dozen points plus game-highs of seven assists and six steals. Junior AnnaRose Pierre added 11 points and seven rebounds while freshman Kenya Adams hauled down nine rebounds to help Kean control the boards, 47-41.
Daniels paced Rutgers-Newark with 14 points and seven rebounds while sophomore Arianna Williams posted 11 points and a team-high four assists. Junior Courtney Woodard came off the bench for eight points, six rebounds and three assists while junior Jade Howard, who was limited to a season-low four points, led Rutgers-Newark with nine rebounds and six steals.
The Cougars clung to a 25-24 halftime lead in a period which featured a major run by each team following a injury to Raider senior ShaQuanna Marshall in the opening minute of play. Marshall, entered the contest leading Rutgers-Newark with averages of 16.8 points, 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game, was injured just seconds into the contest and did not return to action.
Owens netted five points during an 11-1 Kean run, finishing the run with a trey to stake the Cougars to a 19-9 lead with 6:05 left on the clock in the first half. Daniels netted four points as Rutgers-Newark answered with a 9-0 rally to trim the Kean lead to 19-18 with 2:39 remaining in the period.
The Raiders stayed in the game on the strength of a nine for 12 performance at the free throw line during the opening half to offset 11 points netted by the Cougars on the fast break.
Kean will square off against #10 Montclair State University when they host the Red Hawks on Saturday at 3 p.m.
