Ewing, NJ… The Cougars of Kean University clawed their way back from a 37-29 halftime deficit to post a 77-71 win over The College of New Jersey in women’s basketball on Wednesday night. Kean is now 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC, while TCNJ drops to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Junior center Chari’ Cooper (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) led Kean with a double-double as she picked up 18 points and 15 rebounds, including 14 second half points to pace her team to the win.

TCNJ led 37-29 at the break after shooting an impressive 50.0% from the floor (14-28) and 57.1% from three-point range (4-7). Sophomore guard Lisa Koch (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Township) led the Lions at the break with 10 points, including a pair of three pointers. Koch was held to just two second half points as had a career-high 12 points.

Kean’s sophomore guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) had 12 of her 14 points in the first half to lead the Cougars, while adding five first half rebounds to her resume on the night.

Kean tied the action in the second half at 51-51 as freshman guard Alysha Taylor (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) hit a three-pointer in the right corner at 1107. After a series of ties and lead changes, Kean would take a 62-59 lead at 4:59. Senior forward Ebony Allen (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) hit a lay-up at 3:47 to spot the Cougars to a 64-59 lead.

 A jumper by sophomore guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, NJ/Union Hill) helped Kean to a 66-61 lead before TCNJ’s sophomore center Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) hit a pair of free throws to end a Lion scoring drought.

Klimowicz would hit four straight free throws and jumper over the last 2:30 of the game to pull TCNJ within four, trailing 69-65 with 53 seconds left to play. She finished with a game-high and career-high 20 points.

Beyruti finished with 14 points, while 11 points.