UNION, N.J. (11/16/14) – The Kean University women's basketball team won the 2014 Kean Classic in a taught 65-61 matchup with Farmingdale State College on Sunday. The score was tied 16 times and the lead changed hands on another 16 occasions during the afternoon.
Kean dominated the first half when the ball was in play. Kean outshot Farmingdale by five percentage points, out-rebounded them 29-15 and hit three treys versus two for the visitors.
But the Rams were able to hang around thanks to their work at the free-throw line. Farmingdale shot 13-of-15 from the line, while the Cougars were scoreless (0-2) from the charity stripe in the first half.
The game stayed close through the entire second period as well. Kean built up a six-point lead – its largest – with eight minutes to go. But the pesky Rams went on a 6-0 run to promptly erase that advantage and tied the game for a 14th time.
Kean went back up by five with points from Jaquetta Owens and Neia Williams, but Nicole Lanteri answered for Farmingdale with a game-tying three at 2:44.
This time the Rams took the advantage, and Kean had to come back and tie it for a 16th and final time on a free throw by Shanice Jones (pictured left) with just 52 seconds left.
Jones, who was named to the all-tournament team, owned crunch time for the Cougars. The senior then got a layup to give Kean a two-point lead with 39 ticks to go and hit a free throw after she was fouled to put Kean up three with 16 seconds on the clock.
Stephanie Carlone added one more point to seal it as the Cougars won the 2014 Kean Classic.
Kean had 21 points off the bench and limited the Rams to just two…the Cougars also outworked Farmingdale in the paint, holding a 44-28 advantage in points there.
Four Cougars were in double figures, led by MVP Jazmine Davis who posted a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Owens, Jones and Najha Treadwell also had 10 points or more.
2014 Kean Classic All-Tournament Team
Keystone #11 Ashley Evans
Simmons #14 Ashley McAdams
Farmingdale #24 Camille Romero
Kean #2 Shanice Jones
Most Valuable Player
Kean #11 Jazmine Davis
The Cougars will be back in action on Thursday when they host national no. 1 FDU-Florham at 6 p.m. inside Harwood Arena.
