New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Kean University used its size to seize a 68-33 rebounding margin (+35), including 33-14 on the offensive glass (+19), and accumulated a 25-9 cushion in second chance points, as the Cougars, behind 28 rebounds from sophomore center Chari’ Cooper (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro), held off a challenge from New Jersey City University, 81-72, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

               

Kean improves to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in the NJAC, while winning for the fourth time in five games. The Cougars are 5-1 on the road. NJCU, playing for the first time in 20 days, falls to 4-5 and 1-5 NJAC.

               

In defeat, junior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) scored a game-high 22 points (9-19 FG, 3-4 3FG). She added games highs of eight assists and four blocks, with four steals in 39 minutes.

               

The 6-foot-1 Cooper finished two rebounds shy of her own school record of 30, and helped Kean, which struggled from the field (28-73, 38.4%), control the glass. She had 15 offensive caroms, and added three blocks and three steals.

 

Junior forward Chi Clark (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) added a double-double with 20 points (8-14), 14 rebounds and four steals, and 20 more came from junior guard Francine Bell (Orange, NJ/West Side), who shot 7-of-13 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point land.

 

Sophomore forward Kimberly Smith (Burlington, NJ/Burlington) and sophomore guard Shirley Fernandez (Union City, NJ/Union Hill) added nine and eight points, respectively.

 

ARNESE GOODMAN " src="/images/wbasket/2006/1/5/11-30-05%20Arnese%20Goodman%206.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>For NJCU, sophomore forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) poured in 16 points (6-13 FG), including 3-of-7 from three-point range, and added nine rebounds (seven defensive) and four assists. Sophomore guard NATASHIA CLACKLEY (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) contributed 14 points (7-13), five assists and five steals in 39 minutes. Sophomore center TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) chipped in seven points, six rebounds, five steals, and four blocks in 23 minutes.

               

Kean opened up an 11-3 lead and continued to hold a multiple possession margin for most of the first half. The Gothic Knights twice climbed with two on jumpers by freshman guard ANDREA YUDIN (Guilford, VT/Brattleboro Union (VT)) at the 2:00 and 1:00 minutes marks, before the Cougars went to the half up 40-36.

               

A steal by McNair led to a fast-break basket for Clackley at 19:24, and Goodman drilled a three at 18:51, as NJCU went ahead for the first time since the opening minute of the game, 41-40. Another Clackley lay-up made it 43-42 at 16:37, before Bell scored the next seven points of the game, sparked by a three that put Kean back in front 45-43. She extended a lead Kean would not relinquish to 51-46 at 15:00.

               

A three by McNair shaved the deficit to two, 55-53 at 11:13, before a 9-0 run by the Cougars increased the Kean cushion to 11, 64-53, with 8:58 left. Kean led by as many as 11, four times in the final nine minutes of contest, before prevailing by nine.

               

NJCU shot similarly to Kean, hitting 29-of-74 (39.2%). The Knights made 54.5 percent of its threes (6-11), but struggled at the line where Kean nearly converted as many free throws (21-38, 55.3%) as NJCU attempted. The Knights shot 8-of-22 at the stripe, for 36.4 percent. The teams combined for 62 turnovers (36-26 Kean).

 

NJCU looks to return to .500 on the season when it faces Shenandoah University (VA) on Saturday, January 7 at 1 p.m. in the opening game of the Washington and Jefferson College Tournament. Kean next visits Scranton University at 7 p.m. the same day.