Mahwah, N.J. (12/10/16) - The Kean University women's basketball team used a fourth quarter rally to defeat host Ramapo College, 67-59 on Saturday in NJAC action.
The Cougars improve to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the NJAC while the Roadrunners even their record at 4-4 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
Marajiah Bacon led the Cougars with 21 points while Jaquetta Owens tallied 12 points, five assists and five steals. Danielle Oakley (pictured left) posted ten points of the bench and Miesha Bacon posted nine points of her own.
Tia Solomon led the Roadrunners with a double-double 15 points and ten rebounds while Kellie Lane posted 12 points and Bridgette Buckalew collected ten points.
The Roadrunners led for most of the game before Kean staged a fourth quarter comeback. Ramapo took a quick 8-2 lead in the first quarter before the Cougars took a one-point lead after going on a 7-0 run. Ramapo took the lead back on a made basket from Jenna Harsh to start an 8-0 run to close out the first quarter with a seven point lead, 16-9. Buckalew put Ramapo up 20-9 in the second quarter with a made basket off a steal. Later in the quarter, Kean shrunk the lead to two when Oakley sank two free throws with 1:38 on the clock as Ramapo led 29-27. Ramapo scored the final five points of the quarter, all by Solomon for a 34-27 lead at the break.
The Roadrunners led the entire third quarter while Kean started to make a comeback run. With 3:22 to go in the third, Ramapo led by nine, 45-36. Ma. Bacon hit a jumper and a three-pointer in back-to-back shots, cutting the lead to four, 45-41. Lane and Solomon sunk four straight free throws before Ma. Bacon and Owens scored the final two baskets of the third quarter shrinking the lead to four once again, 49-45.
The Cougars started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run to take a two point lead, 51-49. Ramapo tied the game on a jumper from Solomon before the Cougars took the lead for good, with a ten point run, 63-53 with 3:42 left in the game. Ramapo inched their way back and came within four points with under a minute to play but Kean was able to hold on with four made points from the charity stripe in the final 40 seconds.
