In the second game of the afternoon, Olivet College opened the game on a 16-0 run en-route to a 93-43 victory over Keystone College. Kean (1-0) faces Olivet (1-0) on Sunday, November 19, in the Championship Game at 3 p.m., while John Jay (0-1) and Keystone (0-1) square off in the Consolation Game at 1 p.m.
Kean scored the first seven points of the contest and raced out to a 15-3 lead, as Cooper and freshman guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) each scored five points. The Cougars held a 36-21 advantage at halftime behind nine points and seven rebounds from Cooper, while Beyruti added eight points and three steals.
In the second half, the Cougars increased their lead to as many as 24 points on two separate occasions to cruise to the 14-point victory.
Cooper finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Beyruti added 12 points, five steals and three assists in her first collegiate game. Also for the Cougars, sophomore forward Kimberly Smith (Burlington, N.J.) had 12 points, six rebounds and five steals, and junior forward Chi Clark (Maplewood, N.J.) finished with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
For the Bloodhounds, senior guard Liesel Ann-Amow (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored a game-high 21 points and made seven steals, while junior forward Lashannen Hogue (Yonkers, N.Y.) added 12 points, five assists and a game-high 18 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. Junior guard Melissa Escalerra (Bronx, N.Y.) also reach double-figures, as she finished with 12 points and three steals.