Box Score

 Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey women's basketball team battled its way to a 49-37 victory over Kean University on Saturday afternoon in Packer Hall.
 
Sophomore Jessica Goldbach (Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) collected a career-high 12 rebounds as the Lions (12-6) surrendered a season-low 37 points to the Cougars (3-13). TCNJ's defense held Kean to just 23 percent shooting from the floor and led the game from start to finish.
 
Junior Tiffany DeTulio (Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) was the lone TCNJ player in double digits with 12 points in the contest. Junior Liz West (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) had another strong outing finishing with six points and six rebounds, while freshman Angela Esposito (Lincroft, NJ/St. John Vianney) enjoyed a productive afternoon with nine points and three boards.
 
The Cougars were led by sophomore AnnaRose Pierre (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) as she led all scorers with 15 points and compiled eight rebounds. Senior Erika Jones (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) registered a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
 
In the opening half, TCNJ jumped out to a 7-0 lead and forced a quick timeout from former Lions' graduate assistant coach Mandy King. Three-point field goals by Esposito and DeTulio made it a 14-4 game before the Cougars fought back with a 9-2 run.
 
Play was even for the final 10 minutes of the half. West and Goldbach were steady underneath the basket, collecting five boards each in the opening period. Kean struggled hitting shots from behind the arc, netting just 1-of-13.
 
Cougar forward Sharelle Lowe (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor Plainsboro) grabbed an offensive board and dropped in a bucket at the buzzer as TCNJ held the lead by a slim margin 22-21.
 
The pace of play slowed down a bit in the opening minutes of the second half. The Cougars stayed tight with the Lions, but couldn't wrangle the lead from their opponent. With just over 11 minutes in the game, sophomore Kelly Coughlin (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) took a feed from Goldbach and drained a 3-pointer. Following a shot-clock violation by the Cougars, West banked in a short jumper to stretch the Lions' lead to 39-30.
 
Each time Kean cut into the lead, the Lions answered with a clutch play. The Cougars pulled with five with seven minutes to play, but junior Kelly Roddy (Belmar, NJ/St. Rose) knocked down a short from long distance and hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to double digits.
 
Fast break baskets by DeTulio and Esposito with under three minutes remaining put the game out of reach for Kean. The Cougars tried to catch-up quick by shooting three-pointers, but hit only 3-for-25 attempts on the day.
Roddy finished with seven points and senior Candace Vigo (New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick Health Science Technology) connected on three-of-six shots to tally six points.
 
The Lions visit Richard Stockton College on Wednesday night and return to Packer Hall next Saturday, January 26 when they host Ramapo College. TCNJ will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day for girls ages 8 to 13 years-old from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.