Union, N.J. (2/1/25) – The Kean University women's basketball team used a dominating first quarter to push past visiting New Jersey City University, 67-56, on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Cougars (10-10, 7-6 NJAC) scored the game's first 12 points on their way to a fast paced 28-5 lead after the first 10 minutes.

Kean took their largest lead of the day (30-5) to start the second quarter with a jumper from Erika Mercedes.  NJCU (8-12, 7-6 NJAC) turned things around and outscored the Cougars 14-3 in the second stanza as KU held on to a 31-19 advantage at the intermission.

The teams would go toe-to-toe the rest of the way and NJCU made things interesting late, cutting the deficit to four with just over a minute to go.

The last minute would come down to free throws, as the Cougars were a perfect 8-for-8 with four points each from Mercedes and Brooke Sztenderowicz.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Brittany Graff led all players with 18 points and six assists.

Maddison Vaughn brought down 18 rebounds to go along with 12 points and four assists, good for her eighth double-double of the season.

Sela Lefler was one rebound shy of a double-double (11 points, nine rebounds) and Mercedes finished the game with eight points and 14 rebounds.

UP NEXT:

Kean travels to Rowan University on Wednesday.