UNION, N.J. (11/19/16) – The Kean University women's basketball team defeated Lehman College 92-79 to win the 2016 Kean Classic Tournament on its home floor on Saturday. Tournament MVP Marajiah Bacon finished with 39 points, while Cougar freshman De'Mean Bond posted her first collegiate double-double for the Cougars.
Kean trailed 22-17 after the opening quarter, but in the second Bacon - the defending national scoring champion - found her range. She hit seven first-half field goals, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc for 18 first half points. The Cougars outscored Lehman 28-13 in the second to take a 10 point lead into the locker room.
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Bond was also force in the opening half, with seven points and six rebounds over the first 20 minutes.
Lehman got three-straight fast break layups to start the second, and eventually scored the first 12 points of the period to re-take the lead. Bacon finally stopped the bleeding with a three at 5:10 to flip the lead back to the Cougars.
After the 12-0 run to start the period, Jaquetta Owens sparked a 20-11 run over the rest of the quarter with back-to-back treys to give the Cougars a seven-point lead after the third.
The Cougars padded their lead in the fourth and were never threatened again. The frustrated Lightning were called for three technical fouls in the second half.
Bond's totals on Saturday included 14 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Kenya Adams (14p, 9r) and Danielle Oakley (9p, 8r) were tantalizingly close to double-doubles of their own in the game.
Bacon (pictured left) hit 7-of-12 three-pointers, while Ruby Asabor pulled down 10 boards and swatted four Lightning shots. Kean out-rebounded Lehman 64-45, included 24 off the offensive glass that helped the Cougars take an overwhelming 84 field goal attempts.
Amely Del Rosario had 27 points to lead Lehman in scoring, while Shakia Artist racked up five blocks.
All-Tournament Team
De'Mean Bond – Kean
Jaquetta Owens – Kean
Amely Del Rosario – Lehman
Erin March – Ferrum
Most Valuable Player
Marajiah Bacon - Kean
The Cougars will open NJAC play on Tuesday with a home date against rival Montclair State University at 6 p.m.
Ferrum College defeated Alma College 57-55 earlier in the day in the Kean Classic consolation round.
