UNION, N.J. (12/10/14) – The Kean University women's basketball team was upended by visiting Rutgers-Newark 68-66 in NJAC action on Wednesday night. The Cougars (5-3, 3-2 NJAC) rallied from double-digit deficits but could not get the tying points in the final seconds.

Kean was down by as much as 12 in the first half, but Jaquetta Owens led the Cougar comeback with seven points off the bench, aided by a pair of strip steals at midcourt that she converted into fast-break layups on the other side.

Freshman center Najha Treadwell (pictured left) had 12 points at the break to lead Kean in scoring.

Newark's Jade Howard was the star of the first 20 minutes, however, with 20 points and seven boards in the opening period. Still, the Cougars hung tough to pull within one point at the break, 35-34.

After the Scarlet Raiders again went ahead early in the second, Owens tied it with a three-pointer on the wing. After that, Newark (6-3, 3-1) regained control of the lead for a stretch.

10 minutes later, Owens did it again, knotting the game a second time by nailing a trey to tie it at 63 with 2:33 to go.

Kean played well down the stretch, forcing a great number of turnovers and then earning trips to the line. But missed free throws haunted the Cougars, who missed five in a row at one point to forego a chance to gain the lead.

The Scarlet Raiders were able to do just enough to keep Kean at arm's length and hung on to win the taught conference matchup.

Howard racked up the game's only double-double with 34 points and 12 rebounds.

Kean had four players in double digits: Owens had 15 off the bench, Treadwell finished with 12, AnnaRose Pierre earned 11 and Jazmine Davis had 10 to go with a team-leading eight rebounds.

The Cougars will travel to Baptist Bible College on Saturday for a 1 p.m. non-conference matchup.