Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University women’s basketball team upset Kean University,
78-75 in the last conference game of the regular season on Saturday.
Guard Kristina Wallace (sr. Logan Twp., NJ/Clearview Reg.) and forward Jillian Kane (so. Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) led the Profs with 23 points apiece. Wallace tied her career high while it was a new mark for Kane. In addition, Wallace totaled seven assists and four steals. Forward Jessica Nimbley (so. Middletown, NJ/St. John Vianney) contributed with eight points and nine rebounds.
For the Cougars, guard Melissa Beyruti (jr. Union City, NJ/Union Hill) scored a game-high 24 points. Beyruti has compiled 1,311 career points and is fourth on Kean’s all-time scorers list. Center Chari’ Cooper (sr. Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) and guard Cardiss Jackman (so. Tobyhanna, PA/Pocono Mountain W.) each had 13 points and guard Ebony Jackson (jr. Newark, NJ/Malcolm X Shabazz) had 11. Cooper recorded a game-high 17 rebounds. She now has a career total of 1,428 and moved up to third among the NCAA Division III all-time rebounders.
Kean is 22-3 overall and 10-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Rowan has a
15-10 record with a 7-6 conference mark. In the NJAC Championship Tournament, Kean is the second seed from the South Division and Rowan is third. In the first round of the conference tournament on Monday, Kean will host the third seed from the North Division while Rowan will travel to the second seed. The first place teams in each division receive a first round bye. The semifinals are on Wednesday, February 27 and the final is on Friday, February 29.
With 3:11 left in the game, Kean was ahead by six points (73-67) after Jackson hit a three-pointer. The Profs followed with eight straight points to lead by two (75-73) at 1:57. Wallace recorded five points and Kane had a three. Cooper’s layup tied the game at the 56 second mark. Nimbley’s jumper put Rowan up 77-75 with 38 seconds remaining. Guard Brynn DeGroff (jr. Wildwood Crest, NJ/Wildwood) had a foul shot that gave the Profs a three-point advantage (78-75) at the 15 second mark. The Cougars attempted a three-pointer with three seconds left and missed.
Rowan jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first 3:08 of the game. Wallace made two baskets and Nimbley had one. Kean went ahead 11-10 at 12:11 after forward Angelica Bermudez (fr. Belleville, NJ/St. Anthony) had a layup. The Profs took back the lead (12-11) when Amanda Jennings (so. Turnersville, NJ/Washington Twp.) scored.
With 7:01 left, Beyruti’s three-pointer tied the score at 24. Kane nailed two foul shots and Rowan led 26-24 with 5:40 remaining. Jackson hit a jumper at 2:02 that put the Cougars on top 33-32. Jackson had a second basket (1:11) and Beyruti (0:46) and guard Alysha Taylor (so. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) each had one to end the first half scoring. Beyruti totaled 12 first half points while Kane led the Profs with 10.
