Galloway, N.J. (1/17/15) – The Kean University women's basketball team was not able to stop a streaking Richard Stockton College as the Ospreys came from behind to edge the Cougars, 69-68.
A rare four-point play by freshman Lea Mendolla with 0.6 seconds remaining gave Richard Stockton (12-3, 8-1 NJAC) the come-from-behind win over Kean (9-7, 4-5 NJAC) on Saturday afternoon. The win was the Ospreys' fifth straight and 11th in their last 12 contests.
The Ospreys trailed for most of the game until a Mendolla three-pointer with 6:35 left in regulation gave Stockton their first lead of the game at 59-58. Stockton then proceeded to grind out a four-point lead on two Lauren Bowler foul shots and a basket by Lauren Alwan for a 65-61 advantage with 3:38 left but two turnovers and an offensive foul on Stockton's next three possessions gave the Cougars life.
Jaquetta Owens scored the next five points, then two more Cougar foul shots, this time by AnnaRose Pierre, pushed Kean back ahead, 68-65 with six seconds left. The Ospreys were able to set up one last play after a timeout with three seconds on the clock and Mendolla cashed in. Her three-pointer hit nothing but net and she was fouled on the play with the clock at 0.6 seconds. Mendolla sank the winning free throw to send the Ospreys to the 69-68 victory.
Stockton fell behind early in the game, but was able to cut the lead to one on a Sara Farrell jumper to make it 27-26 Cougars. Kean finished the half on an 8-4 run, with two back-to-back treys from Owens, to lead 35-30 at the break.
The Cougars pushed the lead to as many as 10 at 50-40 with 12:56 left in the game before the Ospreys slowly cut into the advantage. Stockton used a 19-8 run to take that first lead at 59-58 and outscored Kean 25-11 over a 9:18 span before the game was ultimately decided in the last frantic seconds.
Alwan led the Ospreys with 16 points, 12 coming after the break, and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.
Owens (pictured left) led four Cougars in double figures with game-highs of 22 points, six assists and four steals. Najha Treadwell added 14 points and eight rebounds while teammates Jazmine Davis and Pierre chipped in with 11 each.
Kean returns to NJAC action on Wednesday, when they travel to local foe Montclair State University.
