UNION, N.J. (1/20/16) – The Kean University women's basketball team knocked off NJAC rival Montclair State University 73-67 on Wednesday night. Montclair has advanced to the Sweet 16 each of the last three years, including a trip to last year's Final Four.
Click here to see highlights of tonight's win!
The score was tied at 18 six minutes into the game, a breakneck rate that had both clubs on pace to reach 100 points.
Marajiah Bacon had 10 points in the first 10 minutes, and Katie Sire had nine points in the same span for the Red Hawks.
Bacon had 18 points in the first half for Kean, but despite her exemplary play the Cougars still found themselves trailing by four at the break. Many times Kean would score a bucket, but the Red Hawks would cherry-pick a fast-break layup on the other side to counter the Cougar progress. Still, the first half featured four ties and seven lead changes between the rivals.
MSU scored the first seven points of the second half, yet Kean outscored the Red Hawks 18-8 over the rest of the period to chop the lead down from a dozen all the way to one as the fourth quarter began.
With Kean still down down one midway through the final period, Jaquetta Owens hit a layup, Miesha Bacon stole the ensuing inbound pass and nailed a jumper that gave Kean a quick three-point lead. It would prove to be the turning point of the game.
Rachel Krauss did hit a trey to give Montclair the lead again with under five minutes left. But with Kean down two, Owens drove the lane, got fouled but made the shot and the free-throw at 3:58 to put Kean up one and in front for good.
In the final minute, Diana Todaro drew a charge with 41 seconds remaining to seal the victory for Kean, which improved to 10-7 overall and 5-5 in the NJAC with their victory.
Ruby Asabor had an incredible nine blocks in the game to go with four points, seven rebounds two steals, an assist and just one turnover. Maraijah Bacon was nearly unstoppable at times, going off for 29 points.
Todaro (pictured left) had a team-best eight rebounds and five points. She added a steal and missed just one field goal without ever turning the ball over. Miesha Bacon was third on the team with nine points. Eden Obou had seven rebounds in 14 minutes of ork and Danielle Oakley added four points for the Cougars.
Montclair won the rebounding battle 53-42 but made just 45 percent of their shots from the free-throw line (10-22). The Red Hawks are now 11-6 on the year.
The Cougars will hit the road on Saturday for a road NJAC date with the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights at 5 p.m.
