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Terre Haute

Coverage of the women's Final Four

2002 season

Kean 85, Salve Regina 82
NEWPORT, R.I. — Junior center Jaquana Abdullah led all players with 27 points, including a pair of free throws that gave her team the lead for good in the final minute, as Kean eliminated Salve Regina 85-82 in first round action of the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

Cougar sophomore point guard Kellie Rice gave her team an early second half lead with a field goal and a three-pointer in the first minute. Salve Regina had led at the break by two (36-34). Seahawk high scorer Lauren Beverly, 17 points, led her team with five points on a 9-2 run to end the first half.

In the final three plus minutes of the game, both teams combined for 13 of 16 free throws (the winners missing on three attempts from the charity stripe). Salve Regina led by six points (72-66) following a Beverly field goal with 4:49 remaining in the game. Rice and Abdullah scored back-to-back baskets and then Rice made 3-of-4 free throws for a one-point lead (73-72; 3:20 on the clock).

Salve Regina (24-5) sophomore point guard Jill Nicholson put back an offensive rebound to regain the lead. The Seahawks boosted the lead back to five points with free throws from Kristin Hart and Beverly. After a 3-pointer and two-pointer from Cougar junior guard Crystal Gadsden tied the game at 78-all, Hart gave Salve Regina two more free throws for another two-point lead.

Rice hit a three-pointer after teammate Stefanie Siniscalchi collected an offensive rebound, and Kean again had a one-point lead. Hart returned the lead to Salve Regina (82-81) with a turnaround jumper in front of her bench with 42 second left. It would be the last points by the Seahawks for the evening.

Abdullah stepped to the line and calmly sank two free throws and, later, one of two before Rice also made one of two for the final margin. Salve Regina was unable to get a three-point opportunity in the final seconds.

Kean (20-8) advances to the second round where they will play at Salisbury on Sat., March 2 at 2 p.m.

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