Union, N.J. (12/17/16) – Eastern University used a balanced fourth quarter to pull away from the Kean University women's basketball team by the final of 70-63 in non-conference action on Saturday.

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Emily Lavin scored the first basket of the contest as the Eagles (6-2) held the lead for much of the first quarter (only by single digits) before the Cougars took their first lead of the day on a jumper from Marajiah Bacon with just under two minutes to go in the period.  Ma. Bacon extended that lead to five with a trey to end the quarter.

After a see-saw battle in the second frame, Lavin put Eastern ahead, 22-21, with a lay-in at 5:43 and later gave the Eagles their largest lead of the day thus far with another layup with 1:23 to go in the half.  Eastern held Kean (6-3) to 17% shooting in the second quarter, and went into the break with a 30-26 lead.

Ma. Bacon (pictured left) led all players with 15 points at the intermission while Lavin was close behind with 14 of her own.  Her teammate Regie Robinson grabbed 13 rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

It was a back and forth affair once again in the third quarter as neither team was able to take more than a three point advantage.  After 30 minutes of action, Eastern led by one, 46-45.

The Eagles never trailed in the fourth quarter, pushing their lead to double digits on two occasions as Robinson picked up a layup with 5:35 on the clock (60-49) and again two minutes later on a made free throw, 61-51.

The Cougars closed the gap to a handful on several occasions down the stretch, but made points from the charity stripe helped keep the lead for Eastern to close out the win.

Ma. Bacon finished with a game-high 27 points while adding five assists and four steals while playing all 40 minutes.  Rookie De'Mean Bond collected a team-high 11 rebounds with seven points and three steals while senior Jaquetta Owens provided 12 points, six assists and three steals.

For the Eagles, Robinson, Lavin and Taylor Price all finished with double-doubles.  Price almost captured a triple-double as she registered 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.  Lavin had a team-high 24 points along with 12 rebounds while Robinson led all players with 20 boards in addition to 18 points.

Kean heads off to their winter break trip and will face Crown College and Calvin College from the warm Puerto Rico, beginning on Tuesday.