Kean University used a 14-0 first-half run to take control and concluded the opening period on a 35-6 spurt, as the first-place Cougars remained unbeaten with an 84-51 victory over New Jersey City University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference inter-divisional contest on Saturday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
Kean improves to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the NJAC with its seventh consecutive victory. The Gothic Knights (2-5, 0-3 NJAC) lose their third straight outing.
In defeat, NJCU junior forward TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) set what is believed to be a single-game school record as she easily surpassed her career high in blocked shots with 10—eclipsing her previous high of six on three occasions, including against Briarcliffe College on November 29. She added a team-high 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting and five rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
Junior center Chari’ Cooper (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) had game highs of 23 rebounds (14 defensive) and 19 points in just 23 minutes for Kean, adding three blocks. Sophomore guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, NJ/Union Hill) finished with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-12 from three-point range.
Also for Kean, sophomore guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) had nine points and five assists, while freshman guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, PA/Pocono Mountain West) chipped in nine (3-5 FG).
For NJCU, junior forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) contributed nine points, six rebounds, and three assists, while freshman guard JERICA HAYES (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) added eight points, including 2-of-3 three-pointers.
Senior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) recorded the 300th assist of her career, finishing with six points, five assists, and three steals, despite shooting 1-of-9.
With NJCU leading 16-12 at 12:58, Kean received six points from Cooper and a three from Beyruti to gain a 26-16 advantage, and a 14-0 run. That streak extended to 28-4 as Kean grabbed a 40-20 advantage at 2:30 on a fast-break bucket by Beyruti. Allen made it 47-22 with 27 seconds left in the half on a fast-break layup and free throw as the Cougars concluded the half with a 35-6 streak.
Kean’s largest lead came with 1:55 remaining in the second half, when a pair of Jackson free throws made it 84-49, for a 35-point margin.
Overall, NJCU committed 30 of the combined 51 turnovers in the game, and Kean took advantage with a 36-6 margin in points off giveaways. Kean also out-rebounded NJCU, 47-31, including 21-13 on the offensive glass, and received a 39-12 boost in scoring from its bench. The Cougars had a 16-2 cushion in fast-break scoring.
NJCU will return to action Monday, December 11 at 7 p.m. when it hosts #15 ranked New York University in a non-conference game at the JMAC. Kean next plays on Thursday, December 14 when it hosts Hunter College at 7 p.m.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score Kean University vs New Jersey City University 12/09/06 6 p.m. at Jersey City, NJ (John J. Moore AFC) At Jersey City, NJ (John J. Moore AFC) KEAN UNIVERSITY 84, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 51 KEAN UNIVERSITY (7-0 (3-0 NJAC)) Melissa Beyruti 7-18 0-0 19; Chari' Cooper 6-15 7-8 19; Ebony Jackson 2-6 5-7 9; Cardiss Jackman 3-5 2-2 9; Colby Greenlee 2-4 2-2 6; Kimberly Smith 3-6 0-0 6; Ebony Allen 2-5 1-1 5; Danielle Brown 1-2 2-2 4; Alysha Taylor 1-2 0-0 3; Chi Clark 0-0 2-2 2; Ali Fontan 1-3 0-0 2; Sarah Lyon 0-1 0-0 0; Jan Bush 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 28-68 21-26 84. NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (2-5 (0-3 NJAC)) Tiffany Boyd 6-13 5-6 17; Arnese Goodman 4-12 0-1 9; Jerica Hayes 2-3 2-2 8; Latrese McNair 1-9 4-9 6; Natashia Clackley 2-6 1-1 5; Trisha Sanon 0-1 2-7 2; Jasmine Gadsden 1-1 0-2 2; Kelly Wilson 1-5 0-1 2; Michelle Vasquez 0-0 0-0 0; Carolina Garcia 0-0 0-0 0; Andrea Yudin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-50 14-29 51. Kean University............... 47 37 - 84 New Jersey City University.... 22 29 - 51 3-point goals--Kean University 7-16 (Melissa Beyruti 5-12; Alysha Taylor 1-2; Cardiss Jackman 1-1; Colby Greenlee 0-1), New Jersey City University 3-8 (Jerica Hayes 2-3; Arnese Goodman 1-3; Latrese McNair 0-2). Fouled out--Kean University-None, New Jersey City University-Arnese Goodman. Rebounds--Kean University 47 (Chari' Cooper 23), New Jersey City University 31 (Arnese Goodman 6). Assists--Kean University 19 (Ebony Jackson 5; Melissa Beyruti 5), New Jersey City University 11 (Latrese McNair 5). Total fouls--Kean University 26, New Jersey City University 21. Technical fouls--Kean University-None, New Jersey City University-None. A-218 Tiffany Boyd sets a career high with 10 blocks. Latrese McNair records her 300th career assist.