Camden, N.J. (1/30/16) – The Kean University women's basketball team clawed their way back from a 30-8 first quarter deficit to grab a 78-73 win over Rutgers-Camden in NJAC action on Saturday.
Kean improved to 12-7 overall and 7-5 in the NJAC with its fourth straight victory. Rutgers-Camden falls to 11-7 overall and 6-6 in the NJAC with its second straight loss.
Kean leads the all-time series, 47-18 and has won the last six games and 21 of the last 22 head-to-head matchups.
With sophomore Michelle Obasi leading the way, the Scarlet Raptors grabbed a quick 30-8 lead after one quarter, but that quarter was costly. Raptor junior Caroline Santiago left the game with an injury and didn't return. The Raptors held the lead by as many as 18 (25-7) in that frame, with 10 points scored by Obasi. Freshman Gabby Greene and senior Kamari Talley both added eight points.
Kean rallied back in the second quarter with a 28-15 advantage, cutting its halftime deficit to 45-36. Junior guard Jaquetta Owens led the charge with 11 points in the quarter, giving her 15 at the half.
The Cougars continued to cut into the lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Scarlet Raptors by three (19-16) and making it a 61-55 game entering the final frame. Early in the fourth quarter, it appeared Rutgers-Camden had changed the momentum as the Scarlet Raptors scored the first eight points of the frame to hold a 69-55 lead with 6:35 remaining. Talley and freshman guard Ariel Robinson scored four points apiece in that run.
Kean's comeback started with a three-pointer by Owens with 5:37 remaining, and by the time she notched a layup with 2:50 remaining, the Cougars had rattled off 13 straight points and cut the gap to 69-68. Talley gave the Raptors a little breathing room with a layup to make it a 71-68 game, but a layup by freshman guard Marajiah Bacon and a foul shot by senior forward Eden Obou tied the game at 71-71, the first time Kean was even since a 2-2 score. After the teams were tied again, Kean took its first lead of the game on a layup by Owens with 58 seconds remaining. It was the lone lead change of the game.
Owens added a foul shot to make it 76-73 and the Cougars closed out the final margin on a pair of foul shots by Obou (pictured left).
Owens finished with 34 points, while Marajiah Bacon netted 20. Freshman center Ruby Asabor added 13 rebounds and seven blocks for the Cougars, who were out-rebounded, 62-48. Kean, however, forced 24 Rutgers-Camden turnovers and shot 18-for-28 from the foul line (64.3 percent), compared with the Raptors' 13-for-28 (46.4).
Talley and Obasi both notched double-doubles for the Scarlet Raptors. Talley had 23 points and 13 boards while Obasi scored 18 points and hauled down a game and career-high 21 rebounds.
Both teams will play a 6 p.m. road NJAC game on Monday night as they make up a contest postponed by the Jan. 23 blizzard. Kean plays New Jersey City University while Rutgers-Camden faces William Paterson University.
