Box Score

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's basketball team hosted the Cougars of Kean University on Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the 2008-2009 New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs. TCNJ would tally a 69-57 victory to capture the program's fourth NJAC Championship and is now 23-4 on the year. Kean, the two-time defending league champions, drops to 21-7 on the year. A year ago, Kean defeated TCNJ 70-61 to win the league's championship in Packer Hall, marking TCNJ's last home setback. TCNJ's last NJAC Championship in 2006.

TCNJ received an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division III Playoffs. The NCAA tournament field will be announced on March 2 and opening round action of the tournament commences on Wednesday, March 4. TCNJ remains perfect at home this year as the Lions are 13-0 and have now won 20 of their last 21 games.

A year ago, Kean defeated TCNJ 70-61 to win the league's championship in Packer Hall, marking TCNJ's last home setback. TCNJ's last NJAC Championship in 2006.

TCNJ was led once again by senior center Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) as she finished with a team-high 19 points with seven blocked shots and nine rebounds. Named the NJAC's Women's Basketball Player of the Year earlier this week, she now has 1,552 points and 997 rebounds.

For the Cougars, junior Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, PA/Pocono Mountain West) led all players with 25 points as she was 8-19 from the floor with six three-point baskets.

TCNJ would take a 30-17 lead into the locker room after holding Kean scoreless until the 13:39 mark of the game. TCNJ led 4-2 and would hold the Cougars to just 32.0% shooting (8-25), including a 16.7% effort from three point range (1-6). TCNJ held an 18-17 edge on the boards while forcing 17 Kean turnovers. For the Lions, Klimowicz led the way with 13 first half point as she was 6-7 from the floor.

TCNJ would get 12 points each from junior guard Nicole Diaz (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor Township), senior Alyssa Michella (Washington Township, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy), and junior Alexandra Gregorek (Mahwah, NJ/Academy of the Holy Angels). The 12 points ties the career-high by Diaz, while Michella was the Lions' high rebounder with 10 boards.

Kean would pull within seven points in the second half as TCNJ held a 32-25 lead with 14:53 left to play. The Lions would break open the game and go on a run to own a 55-34 lead over the next six minutes. TCNJ would force 20 Kean turnovers and hold the Cougars to a 30.4% shooting performance from the floor (21-69).

Kean's junior Alysha Taylor (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) would finish with 10 points, while junior guard Danielle Brown (North Brunswick, NJ/St. Peter's) added a game-high 12 rebounds.