Newark, N.J. (1/14/26) – The Kean University women's basketball team used a dominant third quarter to push past Rutgers-Newark by the final of 65-54 on Wednesday evening.

The teams battled in a back-and-forth affair for the first 20 minutes as the hosts led 28-25 at the intermission.

Kean turned the page in the third quarter, outscoring the Scarlet Raiders, 24-6 in the period. Erika Mercedes scored 10 points in the frame.

The Cougars pushed their advantage out to as many as 19 in the final stanza on a jumper from Makaila Desire.

Mercedes led all players with 18 points off the bench.  She added five rebounds and four steals.  Brooke Sztenderowicz provided 15 points and three steals in 39 minutes of action while Cara McCoy added 10 points and nine rebounds.

Kean returns home to face Montclair State University on Saturday at 3 p.m.