Box Score UNION, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior forward Ayanna Lewis (Willingboro, NJ/Burlington County institute of Technology) put forward an all-world performance on Wednesday, playing all 40 minutes and finishing with 28 points and 13 rebounds as the New Jersey City University women's basketball team (6-10, 4-6 NJAC) came up just short against top-tier Kean University (12-5, 8-2 NJAC), falling 72-70 at Harwood Arena on January 22.
 
The Cougars were able to make just enough of their free throws down the stretch, and a last-second attempt from Aaliyah McCrae (Paterson, NJ/Manchester Regional) went begging, leaving Kean with the two-point victory.
 
Lewis had plenty of help from her teammates on the night, with senior captain Hannah Johnson (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) tallying 13 points, six rebounds, four steals, and three assists, while junior combo guard Dayjah Anderson (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) had 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks off the bench. 
 
For Kean, Shannon McCoy (Barnegat, N.J.) had a monster first half en route to 23 points, six rebounds, and three steals, while Payce Lange (Tewksbury, N.J.) and Emily Dominguez (Brick, N.J.) took the reins in the second, Lange totaling 25 points and five rebounds for the game, while Dominguez had 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Knights got off to a good start, relying on their strong starting five to push out to an early five-point edge (13-8). The home team responded with seven unanswered to help give Kean a small edge at the end of the first quarter, 17-15.
• Kean, who came into the game in a three-way tie for second in the NJAC, looked to establish that top pedigree in the second, pushing their lead out to as large as six, but it was the NJCU bench's turn, as they helped cut into that lead with a pair of subs (Anderson and Zyearah Taylor-Gaston (Jersey City, NJ/Marist (via St. Anthony))) doing the work.
• A jumper from Lewis cut into the Cougar lead right before the break, but not before those 18 first half points from McCoy helped give Kean a 35-32 lead at the half.
• The story was much the same in the third, with Kean starting off well and pushing the lead out to eight before Lewis helped spark a run that ended with NJCU and Kean all square at 43-43 midway through the quarter.
• McCoy hit one of her five made threes on the Cougars final possession on the third, however, giving the team a two-point lead going into the fourth.
• The Knights tied things up on the first possession of the fourth, but for every move the Knights made in the final frame, the Cougars had a response.
• There were three ties in the fourth, the last of which came at the 6:27 mark. From there, Kean led the rest of the way, but their lead was never large. They were, however, able to get to the free throw line often, and they made 8-11 before a pair of missed free throws with 17 seconds left gave the Knights life. 
• Trailing by four, Anderson got a quick basket in transition, cutting the lead to 70-68, and when the Cougars split the ensuing free throws, it left the door open for a one possession game. 
• Anderson then drew a foul in transition and made both free throws, making the score 71-70 with just eight seconds left.
• However, the Cougars were able to get the ball inbounds, make one of their free throws, and get the final stop to hold on for the 72-70 win.

NOTABLES:

• Series: This was the 70th meeting between the two rivals, with Kean leading 58-12 and now holding a 12-game winning streak. 
• The previous meeting was also a nail-biter, with the Cougars making a late comeback to win 61-57 earlier this season at the John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center.
• Lewis' 28 points were an NJCU career-high by a healthy margin, topping her previous career-high of 17 against Ramapo three games ago. She has scored in double figures six times now during her first season with the Knights, and three of those six outings have come in her last four games. 
• Her 13 rebounds were also a career-high, topping the 12 boards she pulled down on two separate occasions this season.
• Hannah Johnson (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) has now scored in double figures in eight games this season, including the last five.
• Dayjah Anderson (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) has now scored in double figures in eight games this season, including eight of her past 10 appearances. She is now averaging over 10.0 points per game.

UP NEXT:

• NJCU gets another shot at a top-tier NJAC foe, hosting first-place Rowan University (15-2, 9-1 NJAC) on Saturday, January 25. Please note: Tip off has been pushed up an hour to 12:00 p.m. 

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