Union, N.J. (1/22/20) – Senior Payce Lange broke a 56-all deadlock to give the Kean University women's basketball team the lead for good as the Cougars edged New Jersey City University, 72-70 on Wednesday night in NJAC action.

Lange finished with a team-high 25 points for Kean as they improve to 12-5 overall and 8-2 in conference play.  NJCU falls to 6-10 this season and 4-6 in the NJAC.  The Knights were led by Ayanna Lewis who had a double-double 28 points and 13 rebounds.

After surrendering the first bucket of the contest, the Cougars rattled off a short 6-0 run to take their first lead of the night.  NJCU responded with their own run (11-2) and took the lead right back at 13-8.  Kean closed the quarter with a 7-1 run over the final two plus minutes, before NJCU sank two free throws to tie the game at 15-15 with nine seconds remaining. A bucket from DarRique Smith as time was expiring gave the Cougars a slim 17-15 lead after 10 minutes of action.

Kean opened the second quarter shooting 3-5 from the field with Shannon McCoy knocking a jumper and a triple for a 27-21 lead. A 6-0 NJCU run evened the contest at 27-27 before McCoy knocked down her third triple of the quarter putting Kean back in front at 30-27 with 2:53 before halftime. Lange scored four points during a mini 5-1 spurt to take 35-30 lead into halftime.

McCoy scored 18 points on 7-9 shooting and 4-6 from behind the arc in the first half.

Kean opened the second half with Emily Dominguez hitting a triple and Lange making a layup to take the largest lead of the game at 40-32 with 9:02 remaining in the third.  NJCU used a 6-0 run to cut Kean's lead back to 40-38, before Dominguez buried her second three pointer of the quarter to put Kean up 43-38 with 5:31 remaining in the third. Tied at 43-all, Dominguez tallied her eight points of the quarter and Lange knocked down a jumper for the 47-43 advantage with 2:48 remaining. After five straight points from NJCU, McCoy knocked down a triple from the right wing to give the Kean a 50-48 advantage entering the fourth.

After trading baskets to open the fourth, Cindy Foresta made a driving layup down the baseline for her first goal of the game and 54-50 lead with 8:23 remaining. Jersey City once again climbed back into it to even the game at 56-56, but the Kean never surrendered the lead. Dominguez continued her great game with an old fashion three play point to give the Cougars a 63-58 lead with 3:46 remaining. The free throw line helped Kean maintain their advantage as Lange made two free throws with 1:14 remaining and a 67-62 lead.

NJCU chipped away at the lead with a 6-1 run to cut Kean's lead to 72-70 with seven seconds remaining. After McCoy went 1-for-2 from the line, NJCU raced down the floor on their final possession, but were not able to convert in the waning seconds.

McCoy finished with 23 points and six rebounds while Dominguez contributed with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Kean remains home and will square off against Montclair State University on Saturday at 3 p.m.