Freshman guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, NJ/Union Hill) hit four free throws in the overtime and Clark hit a layup and got fouled with 0:18 left to put the Cougars (16-11) up three. The Devils (17-9) missed a three-pointer with 0:06 that would’ve tied the game at 70-70.
The Devils started the game on a 17-5 run but Kean came right back with an 11-0 run of their own to close the gap to 17-16. FDU went into halftime ahead 30-29, and came out with a 10-2 run to start the second half. Kean responded again with a 10-2 run and took the lead, 47-46, on layup by Clark with 6:46 left in regulation. Neither team had more than a three point lead the rest of the way.
Freshman guard Emily Cerankowski (Easton, PA/Notre Dame) led the way for the Devils with a game-high 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Senior guard Danielle Yasko (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) dropped in 19 points and ripped down seven rebounds, while freshman forward Jessica Killeen (Middletown, NJ/Mater Dei) grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds.
Freshman guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, NJ/Malcolm X Shabazz) had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Cougars. Beyruti finished with 11 points.
Kean returns to action on Friday, March 3, when it plays the winner of Stevens/John Jay at 7 pm.
Newspaper Box Score Kean University vs FDU-Florham 3/1/06 7:00 pm at Madison, NJ/Ferguson Rec Center At Madison, NJ/Ferguson Rec Center KEAN UNIVERSITY 71, FDU-FLORHAM 69 KEAN UNIVERSITY (16-11) Chari' Cooper 6-11 7-8 19; Chi Clark 6-18 4-6 16; Ebony Jackson 3-10 7-8 13; Melissa Beyruti 3-14 4-4 11; Kimberly Smith 2-13 1-5 5; Nina Oshiokpekhai 1-3 1-2 3; Francine Bell 1-6 0-0 2; Sarah Kozlowski 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 23-78 24-33 71. FDU-FLORHAM (17-9) Emily Cerankowski 8-21 2-2 20; Danielle Yasko 5-12 7-9 19; Jessie Chalmers 3-9 3-4 9; Katherine Daly 4-7 0-1 8; Cara Jennings 3-9 0-0 6; Jessica Killeen 2-7 1-4 5; Nicole Iannotto 0-5 2-2 2; Margy Goodspeed 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-71 15-22 69. Kean University............... 29 31 11 - 71 FDU-Florham................... 30 30 9 - 69 3-point goals-Kean University 1-12 (Melissa Beyruti 1-9; Nina Oshiokpekhai 0-1; Sarah Kozlowski 0-2), FDU-Florham 4-13 (Emily Cerankowski 2-6; Danielle Yasko 2-3; Katherine Daly 0-2; Jessie Chalmers 0-2). Fouled out--Kean University-Chari' Cooper, FDU-Florham-Nicole Iannotto; Cara Jennings. Rebounds-Kean University 50 (Chari' Cooper 14), FDU-Florham 62 (Jessica Killeen 16). Assists-Kean University 7 (Ebony Jackson 7), FDU-Florham 14 (Emily Cerankowski 5). Total fouls-Kean University 21, FDU-Florham 25. A-123