NJAC Tournament Bracket (PDF)
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University women's basketball team won 73-52 over Kean University in the last game of the regular season.
The Profs are the top seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament and receive a first round bye. They finished with a 16-2 conference record. Rowan (22-3) will host the winner of the first round game between the fourth seed The College of New Jersey and number five William Paterson University on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
In the other first round game, the sixth seed New Jersey City University travels to the third seed Kean (17-8) on Saturday, Feb. 22. The Kean/NJCU winner plays at number two Montclair State University in the semifinals. The semifinal winners advance to the final on Friday, Feb. 28 at the higher seed. The NJAC champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Rowan guard
Nicole Mallard totaled 18 points and eight rebounds. She tied her career-high with eight steals. Guard
Kennedy Brown scored a season-high 16 points and collected six boards and four steals. Guard
Grace Marshall and
Alexis Kriley each chipped in with 13 points. Marshall grabbed eight boards and forward
Eliana Santana had seven.
Guard Payce Lange produced a game-high 19 points while forward Cindy Foresta compiled a game-high 15 rebounds and dished seven assists. Guard Shannon McCoy contributed with 15 points.
The Profs were ahead 22-9 after the first quarter but the Cougars cut the deficit to seven (34-27) at the half. Kriley started the second with a three-pointer to lead 25-9 at 9:18. Kean followed with nine straight points to trail by seven (25-18) with 6:49 remaining. Lange scored four points, McCoy hit a three and guard Sarah Olivero had a basket. Foresta made two points at the line to pull within four (27-23) with three minutes left. Rowan answered with a 7-4 spurt to end the quarter with a seven-point advantage (34-27).
Rowan had a 12 point lead (50-38) after the third period. In the final quarter, Marshall's jumper made the score 59-43 at 7:55. Kean was down by eight points (60-52) after a 9-1 run. The Profs ended the game with 13 unanswered points. Marshall contributed with five points while Kriley, Santana, Mallard and Brown added two points apiece.
