Box Score

Union, NJ…The College of New Jersey women's basketball team saw its 11-game winning streak come to an end as the Lions fell at 19th-ranked Kean University by the score of 74-72 on Thursday.

The Cougars netted the deciding points of the game with one second remaining as Olivia Triano (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) sank and 3-pointer erasing TCNJ's one-point lead.

Both teams battled back from deficits in the second half as the Cougars trailed by as many as 11 points, while TCNJ was faced with a nine-point margin with just under five minutes left in the game.

Down 67-58, the Lions went on a 9-0 run sparked by a 3-pointer from senior Alyssa Michella (Washington, Twp., NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) followed by three straight buckets from senior Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood). That run knotted the game at 67-67 and the team continued to trade leads into the final seconds.

TCNJ's final lead came at 72-71 as Klimowicz converted from the foul line with 12 seconds left, but that left just enough time for Triano to make one last basket to put the hosts in front at the final buzzer.

The loss puts TCNJ at 14-4 overall and at 6-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

Kean solidified its hold on the top spot in the NJAC South Division remaining unbeaten in conference play at 8-0, while moving to 13-3 overall.

Klimowicz posted a double-double for the Lions as she led all scorers with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Junior Alexandra Gregorek (Mahwah, NJ/Academy of Holy Angels) also had a solid game in the paint with 15 points, while sophomore Kelsey Kutch (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) added nine.

Senior Lisa Koch (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Township) proved to be the catalyst for the Lions as she finished with a career-high nine assists.

The Lions return home on Saturday, January 31 for another NJAC contest hosting the Roadrunners of Ramapo College at 1 p.m. in Packer Hall.